Music Listening for Critically Ill Children

This study is looking at how live music and recorded music affect stress and pain in children who are critically ill and on a breathing machine (mechanical ventilation) in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Researchers want to see if music can help reduce stress and pain, which are currently managed with medications that can have side effects. You might be able to join if your child is between 2 months and 17 years old, is on a breathing machine, and is expected to stay in the PICU for more than 72 hours. The study will measure changes in stress hormones (cortisol) and inflammation markers (Interleukin-6 or IL6), as well as heart rate variability, to see if music helps. The current status of this study is unclear, but it plans to enroll 171 participants.

Study design
This is a randomized crossover study, meaning participants will receive different interventions in a random order. It aims to enroll 171 participants.
What's involved
Participants will receive live music, recorded music, and usual care. Measurements will be taken before and after each condition for up to 3 days.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Measurements will be taken for up to 3 days after each condition.

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NCT05541029

Music Listening: A Mechanistic Trial

Recruiting
NAAges 2–17InterventionalTreatment
University of Pittsburgh
~171 participants
Updated 2026-01-20 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Live musicRecorded musicUsual care

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in cortisol pre-post condition
Measured over Change from baseline to 30 min. and 60-90 min. post each condition for up to 3 days
+5 more outcomes measured
Critical Illness
1 sites across 1 states
Pennsylvania1
  • Jessica M Jarvis, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Pittsburgh

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

2 months -17 years old
intubated and receiving MV
expected to have a PICU stay of \>72 hours

Exclusion

Primary caregiver does not read, write, and speak English
The child is not expected to survive the PICU stay
The child has deafness in both ears, has a history of musicogenic epilepsy, is receiving neuromuscular blockade infusion
The child has a diagnosis of COVID-19
The child was admitted for a new traumatic brain injury
  • Change in cortisol pre-post conditionChange from baseline to 30 min. and 60-90 min. post each condition for up to 3 days

    Percent change in saliva-based cortisol level, ng/ml. Reported as median change per condition and included as continuous outcome in linear regression.

  • Change in Interleukin-6 (IL6) pre-post conditionChange from baseline to 30 min. and 60-90 min. post each condition for up to 3 days

    Percent change in saliva-based IL6 level, pg/ml. Reported as median change per condition and included as continuous outcome in linear regression.

  • High Frequency (HF) Heart Rate Variability1 hour prior through 2 hours post each condition, up to 3 days

    Trajectory of HF, a biomarker of sympathetic nervous activity. Reported as median value per condition and included as continuous outcome in linear regression.

  • Low Frequency (LF) Heart Rate Variability1 hour prior through 2 hours post each condition, up to 3 days

    Trajectory of LF, a biomarker of parasympathetic nervous activity. Reported as median value per condition and included as continuous outcome in linear regression.

  • HF to LF ration (HF/LF) Heart Rate Variability1 hour prior through 2 hours post each condition, up to 3 days

    Trajectory of HF/LF ratio, a biomarker of autonomic nervous system balance. Reported as median value per condition and included as continuous outcome in linear regression.

  • Standard Deviation of Normal to Normal (SDNN) Heart Rate Variability1 hour prior through 2 hours post each condition, up to 3 days

    Trajectory of SDNN, a biomarker of parasympathetic and sympathetic modulation