Music-based interventions in palliative cancer care: a review of quantitative studies and neurobiological literature

Abstract

PurposeThis study aimed to review quantitative literature pertaining to studies of music-based interventions in palliative cancer care and to review the neurobiological literature that may bare relevance to the findings from these studies.MethodsA narrative review was performed, with particular emphasis on RCTs, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The Cochrane Library, Ovid, PubMed, CINAHL Plus, PsycINFO, and ProQuest were searched for the subject headings music, music therapy, cancer, oncology, palliative care, pain, anxiety, depression, mood, quality of life, prevalence, neuroscience, functional imaging, endogenous opioids, GABA, 5HT, dopamine, and permutations of these same search terms. Data for the review were comprised of articles published between 1970 and 2012. References of all the cited articles were also reviewed.ResultsAvailable evidence suggests that music-based interventions may have a positive impact on pain, anxiety, mood disturbance, and quality of life in cancer patients. Advances in neurobiology may provide insight into the potential mechanisms by which music impacts these outcomes.ConclusionsMore research is needed to determine what subpopulation of cancer patients is most likely to respond to music-based interventions, what interventions are most effective for individual outcomes, and what measurement parameters best gauge their effectiveness.

Music Therapy Is Associated With Family Perception of More Spiritual Support and Decreased Breathing Problems in Cancer Patients Receiving Hospice Care

“…Systematic reviews summarizing the available quantitative evidence for music therapy in hospice and cancer care arrive at similar conclusions: preliminary evidence from small scale studies included in reviews suggests music therapy interventions may be beneficial in decreasing patient-perceived anxiety and pain and improving quality of life. 7,[9][10][11] Studies published after the most recent reviews as well as interpretive research provide further support that music therapy improves quality of life, specifically in terms of psychophysiological issues such as anxiety, pain, and shortness of breath as well as spirituality. [12][13][14][15] Interpretive research describes patients and families experience music and music therapy as providing ways to remain connected to self and others, a means for expression, and a way to stimulate reminiscence and life review.…”

Effectiveness and Interventions of the Music Therapy in Patients in Palliative Care

“…to evoke memories of pleasure and joy associated with the songs that make up the therapeutic arsenal. 1,7,8 It is a challenge for medical staff to deal with the pain, concerns, and reactions that come with the diagnosis. Considering this context, palliative care, associated with music therapy, acts in situations where the therapeutic part for the underlying disease is exhausted, helping to reduce pain and stress, and to recover the sense of familiarity.…”

“…Eletronic edition in http://Amadeusjournal.emnuvens.com.br/amadeus There are complementary techniques to the conventional therapy, but most of them with low cost-benefit, pointing out the necessity of the formulation of other methods with lower cost and better effectiveness, such as music therapy, which together with massotherapy make up, in greater proportion, the forms of non-pharmacological treatment, especially in cancer patients, in the palliative care units. 1,2,3,4 Music is seen as an instrument for reducing pain, anxiety and stress and improving quality of life, both in the physical, emotional and spiritual domain, being used not only in palliative care but also in other areas, such as geriatrics and psychiatry. Therefore, it is an alternative to compose the therapeutic arsenal that can be performed, according to the patient's profile and goal setting, in two main ways: one is the active one, in which the patient hears the sound and the other would be receptive, in which the patient can either create or reproduce the songs of his or her preference.…”

Music therapy for palliative care: A realist review

“…The developments in neuro-scientific literature pertaining to music therapy helps to further explain how it may improve psychological symptoms (Archie et al, 2013).…”