The Effects of Music Therapy and Cuddling on Symptoms of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

Problem Statement: Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome is a group of withdrawal symptoms infants can experience after birth due to the abrupt discontinuation of opioids/narcotics exposed to in utero. These symptoms can include pain, nausea, irritability, vomiting, and tremors.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of cuddling and music therapy on symptoms of neonatal abstinence syndrome including heart rate, respiratory rate, and Finnegan scores (FS).

Study design: A one-group pre-test-post-test quasi-experimental design was used to compare the effects of cuddling and music therapy on neonatal abstinence syndrome symptoms. Cuddling involves a trained cuddler holding an infant while rocking in a rocking chair. Music therapy involves a certified music therapist holding an infant while singing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Each intervention lasts twenty minutes and each infants’ vital signs are taken prior to and after each intervention.

Results: As hypothesized, there was a significant decrease in the pre-intervention heart rates and respiratory rates. There was a significant increase in pre-intervention FS.

Conclusions: The results indicate that music therapy and cuddling may result in decreased heart rates. There was no clinically significant difference in respiratory rate or FS. As a nonpharmacological intervention, cuddling and music therapy are a viable intervention to treat infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome.