Can Choir Singing Improve Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

Main Category: Irritable-Bowel Syndrome
Also Included In: Psychology / Psychiatry;  Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
Article Date: 19 May 2010 - 2:00 PDT

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A Swedish investigation has compared choir singing and group discussion in irritable bowel syndrome in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.

Singing in a choir is very popular in the Nordic countries. This activity has been associated with increased longevity, and it induces feelings of relaxation and energy. Several studies have shown beneficial psychological and/or biological effects of singing. A study has shown that a singing lesson (practicing singing individually) is associated with increases in relaxation, energy and joy, as well as an elevated oxytocin concentration in serum. Low levels of oxytocin have been observed in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in adults. IBS is a common gastrointestinal disorder that is influenced by psychological factors. Merely talking to IBS patients about difficult matters may influence endocrine functions of importance to the symptoms. Group-based information events, including group talk as well as behavioural therapy, have been shown to be of some benefit compared to the distribution of written IBS information. Repeated stress responses correspond to reactions that are needed in energy mobilisation. At the same time, anabolic/regenerative processes in the body are inhibited. Anabolic/regenerative processes are reflected for instance in the blood concentration of testosterone. Recently, it has been shown that fluctuations in the 'free' blood concentration (not bound to proteins in the blood) of testosterone are closely mirrored in saliva. The anabolic/regenerative activities are of central importance to our ability to withstand adverse effects of long-lasting stress. Accordingly, processes that stimulate anabolic/regenerative processes may reduce the effects of stress. Advertisements for subjects with a verified IBS diagnosis were made in a daily newspaper and in the patient union journal. It was explained before the start that the participants would be randomly allocated either to a choir group meeting or an information/discussion group meeting, in both cases once a week for a year. The choir group met once a week, starting in May 2006 and ending in May 2007. A professional music teacher and music therapist served as the group's paid leader. The information group also met once a week during the initial stage, but after half a year the frequency of the meetings was reduced to 3 per month. Participants in both groups received information pamphlets (7 books) 'living with IBS'. After 6 months, there were 16 participants in both groups (corresponding to 56 and 57% in the choir and information groups, respectively). After 12 months, there were 13 participants in the choir (46%) and 14 (52%) in the information group. Saliva sampling took place before the start, and then 6, 9 and 12 months afterwards. On each test occasion, saliva specimens were collected upon awakening, half an hour later, at the end of the working day, before the event (choir and information respectively), after the event, and finally at bedtime (i.e. 6 samples in total). The saliva testosterone concentration was assessed by means of the Spectria RIA (a coated-tube immunoassay for testosterone; Orion Diagnostica Oy, Spoo, Finland).

The ANOVA of saliva testosterone showed a significant time effect, but no difference in means between the groups. In addition, there was a strong 2-way interaction illustrating that the variations in the choir group were significantly more pronounced than those in the information group (F group = 1.36, p = 0.26; F time = 4.06 p = 0.01; F interaction (group X time) = 5.22, p = 0.003). Gender-separated analyses and exclusion of 4 female participants below the age of 50 years (premenopausal ages) made no difference to the results. Saliva testosterone concentration during the waking hours of the day from the choir singers showed an increase after 6 months, when compared to before the interventions. The most likely interpretation is that the highly significant peak in the choir group after 6 months is associated with the intervention itself.

The findings of this study have to be replicated in larger studies. Despite the study's weaknesses there is a clear indication that choir singing once a week induces a state of stimulated regeneration during the first half-year in IBS patients, but that in this particular case this effect did not last until the end of the year.

Source: Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics

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