Background: Emerging research suggests that sound and light therapies, such as binaural beat music and rhythmic photic stimulation, may help reduce anxiety. However, their effectiveness in patients with schizophrenia remains insufficiently explored.
Objective: This study investigates the effects of binaural beat music combined with rhythmic photic stimulation (hereafter referred to as sound and light therapy) on anxiety in patients with schizophrenia.
Methods: A quasi-experimental crossover study was conducted, recruiting participants from a psychiatric institution in central Taiwan. Each participant underwent three distinct sound and light therapy interventions using different frequency settings: Theta (6 Hz), Alpha (10 Hz), and Beta (25 Hz). Heart rate variability (HRV) was assessed as a physiological marker of anxiety before and after each intervention.
Results: A total of 58 participants were included. Following the Theta frequency intervention, HRV analysis indicated a significant decrease in the normalized low-frequency (nLF) index (p < 0.05), alongside significant increases in normalized high-frequency (nHF) and LF/HF ratio (p < 0.05). After the Alpha frequency intervention, HRV parameters SDNN and nHF exhibited significant increases (p < 0.05). The Beta frequency intervention showed no significant HRV changes. A comparative analysis of the three frequencies demonstrated that Theta stimulation was the most effective in enhancing nHF relative to Beta stimulation.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that sound and light therapy may positively influence autonomic nervous system regulation in patients with schizophrenia, offering potential benefits for alleviating anxiety. Further research is warranted to explore the long-term efficacy and underlying mechanisms of this intervention.