Outcomes of music therapy interventions in cancer patients-A review of the literature

Carla Gramaglia; Eleonora Gambaro; Camilla Vecchi; Davide Licandro; Giulia Raina; Carla Pisani; Vincenzo Burgio; Serena Farruggio; Roberta Rolla; Letizia Deantonio; Elena Grossini; Marco Krengli; Patrizia Zeppegno

doi:10.1016/j.critrevonc.2019.04.004

Outcomes of music therapy interventions in cancer patients-A review of the literature

Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2019 Jun:138:241-254. doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2019.04.004. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Psychiatry Institute, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli 17, 28100, Novara, Italy; Psychiatry Ward, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Maggiore della Carità, Corso Mazzini 18, Novara, Via Solaroli 17, Italy. Electronic address: carla.gramaglia@gmail.com.
² Psychiatry Institute, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli 17, 28100, Novara, Italy.
³ School of Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli 17, 28100, Novara, Italy.
⁴ Laboratory of Physiology and Experimental Surgery, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli 17, 28100, Novara, Italy.
⁵ Radiotherapy Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Maggiore della Carità, Corso Mazzini 18, 28100, Novara, Italy.
⁶ Radiotherapy Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli 17, 28100, Novara, Italy.
⁷ Clinical Chemistry Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Maggiore della Carità, Corso Mazzini 18, 28100, Novara, Italy; Department of Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli 17, 28100, Novara, Italy.
⁸ Radiotherapy Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli 17, 28100, Novara, Italy; Radiotherapy Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Maggiore della Carità, Corso Mazzini 18, 28100, Novara, Italy.
⁹ Psychiatry Institute, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Via Solaroli 17, 28100, Novara, Italy; Psychiatry Ward, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Maggiore della Carità, Corso Mazzini 18, Novara, Via Solaroli 17, Italy.

PMID: 31121392
DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2019.04.004

Abstract

Background: Effectiveness of music-based interventions (MI) on cancer patients' anxiety, depression, pain and quality of life (QoL) is a current research theme. MI are highly variable, making it challenging to compare studies.

Objective and methods: To summarize the evidence on MI in cancer patients, 40 studies were reviewed following the PRISMA statement. Studies were included if assessing at least one outcome among anxiety, depression, QoL and pain in patients aged ≥ 18, with an active oncological/onco-haematological diagnosis, participating to any kind of Music Therapy (MT), during/after surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Results: A positive effect of MI on the outcomes measured was supported. Greater reductions of anxiety and depression were observed in breast cancer patients. MI involving patients admitted to a hospital ward were less effective on QoL.

Conclusion: The increasing evidence about MI effectiveness, tolerability, feasibility and appreciation, supports the need of MI implementation in Oncology, Radiotherapy and Surgery wards, and promotion of knowledge among health operators.

Keywords: Anxiety; Cancer patients; Depression; Music medicine; Music therapy; Quality of life; Systematic review.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Anxiety / etiology
Anxiety / therapy
Depression / etiology
Depression / therapy
Humans
Music Therapy / methods*
Neoplasms / psychology*
Quality of Life