Exploratory ICU trial finds no shorter delirium duration with vibroacoustic music therapy

The VIMUD-ICU trial randomized non-ventilated adult ICU patients with postoperative delirium (Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist score ≥4) to standard care with or without vibroacoustic music therapy. The intervention combined music delivered through a SoundPad device with therapist-guided interaction and individualized music, in three daily sessions of 20–30 minutes. From September 2023 to December 2024, 111 patients were randomized (56 intervention, 55 control); the study stopped early when music therapy support ended, short of its planned 122 participants.

The primary endpoint—time from enrollment to 48 hours without a positive delirium score during the ICU stay—did not differ significantly. In secondary analyses, the intervention group had longer delirium-free periods during the delirium episode (median 84.5 vs 55 hours; p=0.018) and more days without alpha-2 agonist treatment (median 6 vs 3; p=0.028). Arousal measures also differed, while ICU length of stay, total delirium duration, days without neuroleptics, and days without restraints did not.

The findings do not establish that the intervention shortens delirium. Interpretation is limited by the small, single-center, unmasked trial, early termination, and lack of time- and attention-matched therapist contact; prescribing decisions may also have influenced medication outcomes. The authors describe the secondary findings as hypothesis-generating and call for further evaluation.