Expired CME Article
Music as Therapy
Abstract
Music is widely used to enhance well-being, reduce stress, and distract patients from unpleasant symptoms. Although there are wide variations in individual preferences, music appears to exert direct physiologic effects through the autonomic nervous system. It also has indirect effects by modifying caregiver behavior. Music effectively reduces anxiety and improves mood for medical and surgical patients, for patients in intensive care units and patients undergoing procedures, and for children as well as adults. Music is a low-cost intervention that often reduces surgical, procedural, acute, and chronic pain. Music also improves the quality of life for patients receiving palliative care, enhancing a sense of comfort and relaxation. Providing music to caregivers may be a cost-effective and enjoyable strategy to improve empathy, compassion, and relationship-centered care while not increasing errors or interfering with technical aspects of care.
Key Points
* Music is widely used to promote a sense of well-being and to distract patients from pain and other unpleasant symptoms, thoughts, and feelings, while being convenient and readily available.
* Music helps to improve mood and decrease anxiety, as well as decrease the pain associated with surgery, medical procedures, and chronic conditions; it also helps ease the dying process.
* Music may help premature babies to gain weight more quickly.
* Music may enhance care-giving behavior.
This content is limited to qualifying members.
Existing members, please login first
If you have an existing account please login now to access this article or view purchase options.
Purchase only this article ($25)
Create a free account, then purchase this article to download or access it online for 24 hours.
Purchase an SMJ online subscription ($75)
Create a free account, then purchase a subscription to get complete access to all articles for a full year.
Purchase a membership plan (fees vary)
Premium members can access all articles plus recieve many more benefits. View all membership plans and benefit packages.
References
1. Watkins A. Mind-Body Medicine. New York, Churchill Livingstone, 1997.
2. Biondi M, Zannino LG. Psychological stress, neuroimmunomodulation, and susceptibility to infectious diseases in animals and man: a review. Psychother Psychosom 1997;66:3–26.
3. Aucott S, Donohue PK, Atkins E, et al. Neurodevelopmental care in the NICU. Ment Retard Dev Disabil Res Rev 2002;8:298–308.
4. Ferber SG, Kuint J, Weller A, et al. Massage therapy by mothers and trained professionals enhances weight gain in preterm infants. Early Hum Dev 2002;67:37–45.
5. Standley JM. A meta-analysis of the efficacy of music therapy for premature infants. J Pediatr Nurs2002;17:107–113.
6. Joachim RA, Quarcoo D, Arck PC, et al. Stress enhances airway reactivity and airway inflammation in an animal model of allergic bronchial asthma. Psychosom Med 2003;65:811–815.
7. Kellman N. Noise in the intensive care nursery. Neonatal Netw 2002;21:35–41.
8. Dossey L. Taking note: music, mind, and nature. Altern Ther Health Med 2003;9:10–14, 94–100.
9. Davis WB, Gfeller KE, Thaut MH. An Introduction to Music Therapy. 2nd edition. Boston, McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc, 1999.
10. Aldridge D. The therapeutic effects of music, in Jonas W, Crawford CC (eds): Healing, Intention and Energy Medicine. London, Churchill Livingstone, 2003.
11. Umemura M, Honda K. Influence of music on heart rate variability and comfort: a consideration through comparison of music and noise. J Hum Ergol (Tokyo) 1998;27:30–38.
12. White JM. Effects of relaxing music on cardiac autonomic balance and anxiety after acute myocardial infarction. Am J Crit Care 1999;8:220–230.
13. Khalfa S, Bella SD, Roy M, et al. Effects of relaxing music on salivary cortisol level after psychological stress. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2003;999:374–376.
14. Stefano GB, Zhu W, Cadet P, et al. Music alters constitutively expressed opiate and cytokine processes in listeners. Med Sci Monit 2004;10:MS18–MS27.
15. Salamon E, Kim M, Beaulieu J, et al. Sound therapy induced relaxation: down regulating stress processes and pathologies. Med Sci Monit 2003;9:RA96-RA101.
16. McCraty R, Barrios-Choplin B, Atkinson M, et al. The effects of different types of music on mood, tension, and mental clarity. Altern Ther Health Med 1998;4:75–84.
17. Collins SK, Kuck K. Music therapy in the neonatal intensive care unit. Neonatal Netw 1991;9:23–26.
18. Caine J. The effects of music on the selected stress behaviors, weight, caloric and formula intake, and length of hospital stay of premature and low birth weight neonates in a newborn intensive care unit.J Music Ther 1991;28:180–192.
19. Standley JM, Moore RS. Therapeutic effects of music and mother’s voice on premature infants.Pediatr Nurs 1995;21:509–512, 574.
20. Standley JM. The effect of music and multimodal stimulation on responses of premature infants in neonatal intensive care. Pediatr Nurs 1998;24:532–538.
21. Block S, Jennings D, David L. Live harp music decreases salivary cortisol levels in convalescent preterm infants. Pediatr Res 2003;53:469A.
22. Aldridge D. Music Therapy in Palliative Care: New Voices. London/Philadelphia, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 1999.
23. Aragon D, Farris C, Byers JF. The effects of harp music in vascular and thoracic surgical patients.Altern Ther Health Med 2002;8:52–54, 56–60.
24. Shertzer KE, Keck JF. Music and the PACU environment. J Perianesth Nurs 2001;16:90–102.
25. Urakawa K, Yokoyama K. Can relaxation programs with music enhance human immune function? J Altern Complement Med 2004;10:605–606.
26. Evans D. The effectiveness of music as an intervention for hospital patients: a systematic review. J Adv Nurs 2002;37:8–18.
27. Yung PM, Chui-Kam S, French P, et al. A controlled trial of music and pre-operative anxiety in Chinese men undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate. J Adv Nurs 2002;39:352–359.
28. Lepage C, Drolet P, Girard M, et al. Music decreases sedative requirements during spinal anesthesia. Anesth Analg 2001;93:912–916.
29. Haun M, Mainous RO, Looney SW. Effect of music on anxiety of women awaiting breast biopsy.Behav Med 2001;27:127–132.
30. Barnason S, Zimmerman L, Nieveen J. The effects of music interventions on anxiety in the patient after coronary artery bypass grafting. Heart Lung 1995;24:124–132.
31. Kain ZN, Caldwell-Andrews AA, Krivutza DM, et al. Interactive music therapy as a treatment for preoperative anxiety in children: a randomized controlled trial. Anesth Analg 2004;98:1260–1266.
32. Cassileth BR, Vickers AJ, Magill LA. Music therapy for mood disturbance during hospitalization for autologous stem cell transplantation: a randomized controlled trial. Cancer 2003;98:2723–2729.
33. Smith M, Casey L, Johnson D, et al. Music as a therapeutic intervention for anxiety in patients receiving radiation therapy. Oncol Nurs Forum 2001;28:855–862.
34. Barrera ME, Rykov MH, Doyle SL. The effects of interactive music therapy on hospitalized children with cancer: a pilot study. Psychooncology 2002;11:379–388.
35. Magill L. The use of music therapy to address the suffering in advanced cancer pain. J Palliat Care2001;17:167–172.
36. Burns DS. The effect of the bonny method of guided imagery and music on the mood and life quality of cancer patients. J Music Ther 2001;38:51–65.
37. Guzzetta CE. Effects of relaxation and music therapy on patients in a coronary care unit with presumptive acute myocardial infarction. Heart Lung 1989;18:609–616.
38. Vickers AJ, Cassileth BR. Unconventional therapies for cancer and cancer-related symptoms.Lancet Oncol 2001;2:226–232.
39. Chlan L. Effectiveness of a music therapy intervention on relaxation and anxiety for patients receiving ventilatory assistance. Heart Lung 1998;27:169–176.
40. Wong HL, Lopez-Nahas V, Molassiotis A. Effects of music therapy on anxiety in ventilator-dependent patients. Heart Lung 2001;30:376–387.
41. Chan YM, Lee PW, Ng TY, et al. The use of music to reduce anxiety for patients undergoing colposcopy: a randomized trial. Gynecol Oncol 2003;91:213–217.
42. Hayes A, Buffum M, Lanier E, et al. A music intervention to reduce anxiety prior to gastrointestinal procedures. Gastroenterol Nurs 2003;26:145–149.
43. Dubois JM, Bartter T, Pratter MR. Music improves patient comfort level during outpatient bronchoscopy. Chest 1995;108:129–130.
44. Augustin P, Hains AA. Effect of music on ambulatory surgery patients’ preoperative anxiety. AORN J 1996;63:750, 753–758.
45. Elliott D. The effects of music and muscle relaxation on patient anxiety in a coronary care unit.Heart Lung 1994;23:27–35.
46. Chlan L, Evans D, Greenleaf M, et al. Effects of a single music therapy intervention on anxiety, discomfort, satisfaction, and compliance with screening guidelines in outpatients undergoing flexible sigmoidoscopy. Gastroenterol Nurs 2000;23:148–156.
47. Lee D, Henderson A, Shum D. The effect of music on preprocedure anxiety in Hong Kong Chinese day patients. J Clin Nurs 2003;13:297–303.
48. Hamel WJ. The effects of music intervention on anxiety in the patient waiting for cardiac catheterization. Intensive Crit Care Nurs 2001;17:279–285.
49. Thorgaard B, Henriksen BB, Pedersbaek G, et al. Specially selected music in the cardiac laboratory-an important tool for improvement of the well-being of patients. Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs2004;3:21–26.
50. Colt HG, Powers A, Shanks TG. Effect of music on state anxiety scores in patients undergoing fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Chest 1999;116:819–824.
51. Taylor-Piliae RE, Chair SY. The effect of nursing interventions utilizing music therapy or sensory information on Chinese patients’ anxiety prior to cardiac catheterization: a pilot study. Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs 2002;1:203–211.
52. Kwekkeboom KL. Music versus distraction for procedural pain and anxiety in patients with cancer.Oncol Nurs Forum 2003;30:433–440.
53. Dunn K. Music and the reduction of post-operative pain. Nurs Stand 2004;18:33–39.
54. Good M. Effects of relaxation and music on postoperative pain: a review. J Adv Nurs 1996;24:905–914.
55. Koch ME, Kain ZN, Ayoub C, et al. The sedative and analgesic sparing effect of music.Anesthesiology 1998;89:300–306.
56. Nilsson U, Rawal N, Unosson M. A comparison of intra-operative or postoperative exposure to music: a controlled trial of the effects on postoperative pain. Anaesthesia 2003;58:699–703.
57. Good M, Anderson GC, Stanton-Hicks M, et al. Relaxation and music reduce pain after gynecologic surgery. Pain Manag Nurs 2002;3:61–70.
58. Good M, Stanton-Hicks M, Grass JA, et al. Relief of postoperative pain with jaw relaxation, music and their combination. Pain 1999;81:163–172.
59. Fratianne RB, Prensner JD, Huston MJ, et al. The effect of music-based imagery and musical alternate engagement on the burn debridement process. J Burn Care Rehabil 2001;22:47–53.
60. Baghdadi ZD. Evaluation of audio analgesia for restorative care in children treated using electronic dental anesthesia. J Clin Pediatr Dent 2000;25:9–12.
61. Hanser SB. Using music therapy as distraction during lumbar punctures. J Pediatr Oncol Nurs1993;10:2.
62. Jacobson AF. Intradermal normal saline solution, self-selected music, and insertion difficulty effects on intravenous insertion pain. Heart Lung 1999;28:114–122.
63. Menegazzi JJ, Paris PM, Kersteen CH, et al. A randomized, controlled trial of the use of music during laceration repair. Ann Emerg Med 1991;20:348–350.
64. Prensner JD, Yowler CJ, Smith LF, et al. Music therapy for assistance with pain and anxiety management in burn treatment. J Burn Care Rehabil 2001;22:83–88.
65. Megel ME, Houser CW, Gleaves LS. Children’s responses to immunizations: lullabies as a distraction. Issues Compr Pediatr Nurs 1998;21:129–145.
66. Schiemann U, Gross M, Reuter R, et al. Improved procedure of colonoscopy under accompanying music therapy. Eur J Med Res 2002;7:131–134.
67. Smolen D, Topp R, Singer L. The effect of self-selected music during colonoscopy on anxiety, heart rate, and blood pressure. Appl Nurs Res 2002;15:126–136.
68. Uedo N, Ishikawa H, Morimoto K, et al. Reduction in salivary cortisol level by music therapy during colonoscopic examination. Hepatogastroenterology 2004;51:451–453.
69. Butt ML, Kisilevsky BS. Music modulates behaviour of premature infants following heel lance. Can J Nurs Res 2000;31:17–39.
70. Joyce BA, Keck JF, Gerkensmeyer J. Evaluation of pain management interventions for neonatal circumcision pain. J Pediatr Health Care 2001;15:105–114.
71. Phumdoung S, Good M. Music reduces sensation and distress of labor pain. Pain Manag Nurs2003;4:54–61.
72. McCaffrey R, Freeman E. Effect of music on chronic osteoarthritis pain in older people. J Adv Nurs2003;44:517–524.
73. Beck SL. The therapeutic use of music for cancer-related pain. Oncol Nurs Forum 1991;18:1327–1337.
74. Standley JM, Hanser SB. Music therapy research and applications in pediatric oncology treatment.J Pediatr Oncol Nurs 1995;12:3–10.
75. Sahler O, Hunter B, JL L. The effect of using music therapy with relaxation imagery in the management of patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation: a pilot feasibility study. Alt Ther Health Med 2003;9:70–74.
76. Halstead MT, Roscoe ST. Restoring the spirit at the end of life: music as an intervention for oncology nurses. Clin J Oncol Nurs 2002;6:332–336.
77. Hilliard RE. The effects of music therapy on the quality and length of life of people diagnosed with terminal cancer. J Music Ther 2003;40:113–137.
78. Gallagher LM, Huston MJ, Nelson KA, et al. Music therapy in palliative medicine. Support Care Cancer 2001;9:156–161.
79. Krout RE. The effects of single-session music therapy interventions on the observed and self-reported levels of pain control, physical comfort, and relaxation of hospice patients. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2001;18:383–390.
80. Allen K, Blascovich J. Effects of music on cardiovascular reactivity among surgeons. JAMA1994;272:882–884.
81. Bittman B, Bruhn KT, Stevens C, et al. Recreational music-making: a cost-effective group interdisciplinary strategy for reducing burnout and improving mood states in long-term care workers. Adv Mind Body Med 2003;19:4–15.
82. Grasso MC, Button BM, Allison DJ, et al. Benefits of music therapy as an adjunct to chest physiotherapy in infants and toddlers with cystic fibrosis. Pediatr Pulmonol 2000;29:371–381.
83. Kemper K, Martin K, Block SM, et al. Attitudes and expectations about music therapy for premature infants among staff in a neonatal intensive care unit. Altern Ther Health Med 2004;10:50–54.
84. Newell GC, Hanes DJ. Listening to music: the case for its use in teaching medical humanism. Acad Med 2003;78:714–719.
