Towards Prescribed Music in Clinical Contexts: More Than Words

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 70
Author(s):  
Andrew Rossetti

The use of pre-recorded music has become status quo in a growing number of clinical music & medicine contexts. The process for choosing music used in both music therapy and music medicine interventions however has received surprisingly little attention in the literature, and might benefit from a more systematic approach. Applications made should ultimately provide for greater therapeutic efficacy. The following guidelines seek to contribute to the development of such a system in an effort to move toward a less arbitrary practice- thereby focusing greater attention to accurately match pre-recorded music to meet desired clinical goals. A systematic approach was developed and implemented in a music psychotherapy program which treated patients receiving radiation therapy for cancer in contexts in which the use of live music interventions were not feasible (e.g. during simulation for external beam radiation therapy and radiation therapy). The protocolized music therapy intervention that sought to address state anxiety in patients with cancer was examined in a randomized control study. This article will describe a developing system resulting from this study, thereby qualifying the clinical context of how musical decisions are made.

2011 ◽  
Vol 5;14 (5;9) ◽  
pp. 447-458
Author(s):  
Ariel E. Hirsch

Background: Vertebral augmentation (VA) techniques such as vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are increasingly performed minimally invasive procedures for osteoporotic or malignant compression fractures (MCFs) and involve injection of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement directly into a compressed vertebral body. Objective: This article will evaluate the efficacy of VA in relieving fracture-related pain. We also intend to identify procedural and clinical variables that could potentially influence outcomes in this population. In the subset of patients with cancer who received both external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and VA, we will assess the impact of the treatment sequence on pain outcomes. Study Design: We performed a retrospective analysis of 201 cases of patients with cancer and MCFs who underwent one or more vertebral augmentation procedures at our institution between 2003 and 2009. The majority of cancers represented were multiple myeloma, metastatic lung cancer, and metastatic breast cancer. The primary outcome measure was pain relief, as measured by the Visual Analog Scale and a 4-point pain scale. Setting: We present an institutional experience at an academic medical center of 201 cases of MCFs. Methods: We compiled an institutional database of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty cases using paper and electronic medical records. Our data collection methodology has been previously reported and includes variables such as procedure dates, gender, age, type of malignancy, fracture etiology, history of cancer treatment, type of procedure performed, vertebral level treated, the number of levels treated per procedure, complications, and follow-up information on pain response. The updated dataset incorporates new variables including information on pain medications and standardized questionnaires such as the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain and the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). Results: In the 201 cases of MCFs, a total of 316 vertebral levels were treated with either vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty. Follow-up data on pain relief was available for 190 out of 201 cases (95%). Among this subgroup, 168 cases (88%) with MCFs responded. Thirty-nine percent (39%) of the time patients experienced complete pain resolution. In only 4% of cases did patients report worsening of their fracture-related pain post-procedure. There was no difference in pain outcomes with regard to sequencing of EBRT and VA. Limitations: One of the limitations of our analysis is that it did not evaluate the effect of pain improvement or resolution before and after EBRT alone and on activities of daily living in the majority of patients. However, one of the main goals of this analysis is to address previous limitations. We attempt to standardize outcome measures by using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain and the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). Conclusion: A multimodality approach for the management of MCFs includes VA procedures. The majority of patients with MCFs have excellent palliation with this approach. In patients who receive both EBRT and VA, the sequence in which they are given does not affect pain improvement outcomes. Key words: malignant compression fractures, palliation, vertebroplasty, radiation therapy


2000 ◽  
Vol 93 (supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 37-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
William F. Regine ◽  
Roy A. Patchell ◽  
James M. Strottmann ◽  
Ali Meigooni ◽  
Michael Sanders ◽  
...  

Object. This investigation was performed to determine the tolerance and toxicities of split-course fractionated gamma knife radiosurgery (FSRS) given in combination with conventional external-beam radiation therapy (CEBRT). Methods. Eighteen patients with previously unirradiated, gliomas treated between March 1995 and January 2000 form the substrate of this report. These included 11 patients with malignant gliomas, six with low-grade gliomas, and one with a recurrent glioma. They were stratified into three groups according to tumor volume (TV). Fifteen were treated using the initial FSRS dose schedule and form the subject of this report. Group A (four patients), had TV of 5 cm3 or less (7 Gy twice pre- and twice post-CEBRT); Group B (six patients), TV greater than 5 cm3 but less than or equal to 15 cm3 (7 Gy twice pre-CEBRT and once post-CEBRT); and Group C (five patients), TV greater than 15 cm3 but less than or equal to 30 cm3 (7 Gy once pre- and once post-CEBRT). All patients received CEBRT to 59.4 Gy in 1.8-Gy fractions. Dose escalation was planned, provided the level of toxicity was acceptable. All patients were able to complete CEBRT without interruption or experiencing disease progression. Unacceptable toxicity was observed in two Grade 4/Group B patients and two Grade 4/Group C patients. Eight patients required reoperation. In three (38%) there was necrosis without evidence of tumor. Neuroimaging studies were available for evaluation in 14 patients. Two had a partial (≥ 50%) reduction in volume and nine had a minor (> 20%) reduction in size. The median follow-up period was 15 months (range 9–60 months). Six patients remained alive for 3 to 60 months. Conclusions. The imaging responses and the ability of these patients with intracranial gliomas to complete therapy without interruption or experiencing disease progression is encouraging. Excessive toxicity derived from combined FSRS and CEBRT treatment, as evaluated thus far in this study, was seen in patients with Group B and C lesions at the 7-Gy dose level. Evaluation of this novel treatment strategy with dose modification is ongoing.


10.37206/88 ◽  
2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen Yorke ◽  
Rodica Alecu ◽  
Li Ding ◽  
Doracy Fontenla ◽  
Andre Kalend ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Daryoush Khoramian ◽  
Soroush Sistani ◽  
Bagher Farhood

Abstract Aim: In radiation therapy, accurate dose distribution in target volume requires accurate treatment setup. The set-up errors are unwanted and inherent in the treatment process. By achieving these errors, a set-up margin (SM) of clinical target volume (CTV) to planning target volume (PTV) can be determined. In the current study, systematic and random set-up errors that occurred during prostate cancer radiotherapy were measured by an electronic portal imaging device (EPID). The obtained values were used to propose the optimum CTV-to-PTV margin in prostate cancer radiotherapy. Materials and methods: A total of 21 patients with prostate cancer treated with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) participated in this study. A total of 280 portal images were acquired during 12 months. Gross, population systematic (Σ) and random (σ) errors were obtained based on the portal images in Anterior–Posterior (AP), Medio-Lateral (ML) and Superior–Inferior (SI) directions. The SM of CTV to PTV were then calculated and compared by using the formulas presented by the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) 62, Stroom and Heijmen and Van Herk et al. Results: The findings showed that the population systematic errors during prostate cancer radiotherapy in AP, ML and SI directions were 1·40, 1·95 and 1·94 mm, respectively. The population random errors in AP, ML and SI directions were 2·09, 1·85 and 2·29 mm, respectively. The SM of CTV to PTV calculated in accordance with the formula of ICRU 62 in AP, ML and SI directions were 2·51, 2·68 and 3·00 mm, respectively. And according to Stroom and Heijmen, formula were 4·23, 5·19 and 5·48 mm, respectively. And Van Herk et al. formula were 4·96, 6·17 and 6·45 mm, respectively. Findings: The SM of CTV to PTV in all directions, based on the formulas of ICRU 62, Stroom and Heijmen and van Herk et al., were equal to 2·73, 4·98 and 5·86 mm, respectively; these values were obtained by averaging the margins in all directions.


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