Anxiety fell after music and virtual reality sessions before cardiac surgery
A small pilot found lower anxiety scores after both session types, while salivary cortisol did not change significantly.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
In this small pilot trial, anxiety scores fell after both virtual reality mindfulness and music sessions before cardiac surgery. A between-group comparison was nonsignificant, but the abstract leaves the exact comparison unclear. Cortisol did not change significantly. The study does not establish whether either approach outperforms usual care or improves surgical recovery.
The abstract gives inconsistent postoperative participant counts and does not describe a usual-care group. These issues, the small sample and unclear anxiety comparison limit interpretation; this abstract-based brief cannot resolve them.
What researchers found
Reported between-group test of preoperative anxiety
Virtual reality mindfulness versus music therapy around 15-minute preoperative sessions; anxiety was measured with the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The abstract does not specify whether this nonsignificant test compared changes or post-session scores.
Understanding the comparison
Participants were randomly assigned to virtual reality or music sessions, with anxiety assessed before and after each intervention. Comparing these active approaches leaves uncertainty about how anxiety would have changed without either session.
Other outcomes
The abstract also describes lower anxiety scores among those assessed after surgery. Salivary cortisol showed no significant change, so the subjective anxiety results were not accompanied by a demonstrated change in that stress measure.
The original publication
A randomised pilot study evaluating music therapy and virtual reality mindfulness sessions for reducing anxiety and stress in patients undergoing first-time elective cardiac surgery.
Krishnamoorthy B, Abdelghafar M, Air R et al.
J Perioper Pract · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41045170
- Record checked
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