Music minimizes pain and anxiety

Music makes us feel good, and it’s scientifically proven. According to a new study published in the specialist journal Integrative Cancer Therapiesmusic therapy reduces the pain of people with cancer or sickle cell disease, a genetic disease that affects red blood cells.

“The largest survey of the real effectiveness of music therapy”

This study was conducted between January 2017 and July 2020, at Connor Whole Health US University Hospitals. It is based on 4,002 music therapy sessions delivered to 1,152 patients, “making it the largest survey of the true effectiveness of music therapy”say the authors.

The music therapists’ interventions were based on listening to live music, creating music and writing songs, and aimed to help patients express themselves, manage their pain and reduce their anxiety. To find out the effectiveness of these sessions, the therapists rated the pain, anxiety and fatigue reported by the patients on a scale of 0 to 10, at the beginning and at the end of each session. “What makes this research unique is our ability to collect all of our data in the electronic health record, then extract and analyze it to understand the true impact of music therapy“, explains Sam Rodgers-Melnick, music therapist and lead author of the study.

Benefits for people with cancer or sickle cell disease

The results obtained show statistically significant reductions in pain, anxiety and fatigue in patients with sickle cell disease or cancer. During the study, the participants were able to leave comments on their feelings vis-à-vis music therapy: they spoke of gratitude, better mood and pleasure. “It helps me release daily pressure and stress“, says a patient, whose testimony is published in the study. I’ve had a lot of tough times, but that really gives me courage.”

The authors note that patients stress the importance of the expertise of music therapists in meeting their needs. “Our work goes beyond simple personalized musical interventions to treat symptomssays Sam Rodgers-Melnick. The ways we build therapeutic relationships with patients and actively engage them in the musical process are key to helping patients express their thoughts and feelings and cope with a long series of treatments in cancer centers..”