Music Therapy as a Form of Nonpharmacologic Pain Modulation in Patients with Cancer: A Systematic Review of the Current Literature

Abstract

Aims and Objectives: To consolidate and summarize the current literature surrounding the use of music therapy as an effective noninvasive adjunct to conventional cancer therapy, especially as a low-risk alternative for pain management and anesthetic use in cancer patients. Background: Current studies have proposed that music therapy may be effective as a noninvasive adjunct to conventional cancer therapy in managing numerous outcomes in cancer patients. However, the findings of these investigations have not been consolidated and analyzed on a large scale. Therefore, focusing a systematic review on the effects of music therapy as an adjunct to conventional cancer therapy would give a better understanding of which intervention approaches are associated with better clinical outcomes for cancer patients. Design: A systematic review. Methods: A review of randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effectiveness of music therapy in physical, cognitive, and psychosocial outcomes for cancer patients alone or in conjunction with standard therapy was implemented. We conducted searches using the PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library databases for all articles meeting the search criteria up until the time of article extraction in May, 2022. Only studies published in English were included. Two reviewers independently extracted data on participant and intervention characteristics. The main outcome variables included pain, anxiety, quality of life, mood, sleep disorders, fatigue, heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation. Results: Of the 202 initially identified articles, 25 randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria for evaluation. Of the 25 studies, 23 (92.0%) reported statistically and clinically significant improvements across the outcome variables. Two of the studies (8.00%) found no significant positive effect from music therapy in any of the aforementioned outcomes variables. Conclusion: Music therapy, both as a standalone treatment and when used in conjunction with other pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic modalities, has a generally beneficial effect across several physiologic and psychosocial aspects of cancer.

Music Therapy: A Noninvasive Treatment to Reduce Anxiety and Pain of Colorectal Cancer Patients—A Systemic Literature Review

“…Among the four studies measuring anxiety as an outcome, three studies (75%) showed that MT reduced anxiety. The results are consistent with previous systemic reviews and meta-analyses [ 29 , 41 , 42 , 43 ]. This review only includes RCTs with participants who had CRC or gastrointestinal cancer.…”

“…This review only includes RCTs with participants who had CRC or gastrointestinal cancer. The other systemic reviews [ 29 , 41 , 42 , 43 ] include all types of cancer patients.…”

The Efficacy of Reminiscence Therapy in Cancer-Related Symptom Management: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…9 Psychosocial care is one of the important approaches for cancer survivors to alleviate negative emotions and psychological symptoms like anxiety and depression. 10,11 Psychosocial care commonly includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), 12 mindfulness therapy, 13 music therapy, 14 and reminiscence therapy (RT), 15 and others. RT, a common method of social psychological intervention, mainly refers to discussing past activities, events, and experiences under some tangible cues (such as photos, familiar objects, music, and recordings).…”

A web app-based music intervention reduces experimental thermal pain: A randomized trial on preferred versus least-liked music style

“…Converging evidence suggests that music is indeed beneficial for different types of pain ( 13 , 14 , 18 , 19 ), in addition to psychological distress, ranging from smaller-scale mood improvements to anxiety disorders ( 20 ). Music can also improve the management of chronic pain conditions, such as cancer by reducing pain and its associated components of anxiety, depression, and quality of life ( 21 ).…”

“…Music is easy to implement in clinical contexts as it is safe, noninvasive, and inexpensive (3,4). Multiple clinical environments can be found using music today (5,6) for conditions such as childbirth (7)(8)(9)(10), resuscitation (11), cardiac surgery (12,13), cancer (14,15), in cardiology, during a catheter installation (16), or cataract surgery (17).…”