Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2016 Oct-Dec;22(4):455-458.
doi: 10.4103/0973-1075.191823.

The Effects of Music Therapy on Anxiety and Depression of Cancer Patients

Madineh Jasemi  1 , Sanaz Aazami  2 , Roghaieh Esmaili Zabihi  1
Affiliations

The Effects of Music Therapy on Anxiety and Depression of Cancer Patients

Madineh Jasemi et al. Indian J Palliat Care. 2016 Oct-Dec.

Abstract

Background and purpose: Cancer patients often suffer from anxiety and depression. Various methods are used to alleviate anxiety and depression, but most of them have side effects. Music therapy can be used as a noninvasive method to reduce anxiety and depression. This study aimed to examine the effect of music therapy on anxiety and depression in patients with cancer.

Materials and methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted attaching hospitals in Urmia city. A total number of sixty patients with depression and anxiety were recruited using random sampling method and divided into two groups of control and intervention. Patients in intervention group listened to light music at least 20 min per day for 3 days. The degree of patients' anxiety and depression was assessed by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at baseline and 3 days after music therapy. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 13 using t-test, Pearson, and ANOVA tests.

Results: The results showed no significant differences between demographic variable of intervention and control groups. Our findings indicated a significant decrease in the level of depression and anxiety among intervention group. There were significant relationships between anxiety, depression, and sex (P < 0.001, r = 0.42) as well as education (P = 0.003, r = 0.37).

Conclusion: This study revealed positive effects of music therapy on decreasing level of depression and anxiety in patients with cancer. Therefore, it is recommended to include music therapy in the nursing care.

Keywords: Anxiety; Cancer; Depression; Music.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Rahmani A, Ferguson C, Jabarzadeh F, Mohammadpoorasl A, Moradi N, Pakpour V. Supportive care needs of Iranian cancer patients. Indian J Palliat Care. 2014;20:224–8. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Rezvani M. Cancer, endless suffering. Mashhad: Astane Gods Razavi; 2004.
    1. Hanington A, Berrelly O. Pychiatric management of cancer pain. London: Mosby; 2003.
    1. Valizadeh L, Zamanzadeh V, Rahmani A, Howard F, Nikanfar AR, Ferguson C. Cancer disclosure: Experiences of Iranian cancer patients. Nurs Health Sci. 2012;14:250–6. - PubMed
    1. Ilkhani M. Effects of relaxation on pain in cancer patients hospitalized cancer in selected Tehran hospitals. Tehran: Medical Sience University of Shahid Beheshti; 2002.