Quantitative and qualitative effects of live music medicine on anxiety and depression in cancer inpatients

Abstract BackgroundA growing body of literature suggests that music medicine may decrease anxiety and depression in cancer patients, but the mechanism by which this happens remains speculative. This study analyzes the underlying thematic perspectives by utilizing both quantitative and qualitative assessments. Therefore, the goal of this study is to determine the quantitative effects and underlying thematic perspectives of music medicine on anxiety and depression in cancer inpatients. Methods and findingsTwenty-four cancer inpatients participated in this prospective cohort study to measure the effects of a private, fifteen-minute, live guitar/singing performance on anxiety and depression. Questions modified from the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and a written free response section were used. Independent from age, gender, and relationship to music, music medicine significantly increased patients’ cheerfulness, ability to laugh, relaxation, and decreased worrying thoughts. There was also a trend towards decreased tension, restlessness, feeling slowed down, and increased excitement for the future that failed to reach statistical significance. The most frequently used words within the free response sections were made into a word cloud with the three most common words being music, listening, and made. ConclusionThis article not only illustrates that music medicine decreases several elements of anxiety and depression in cancer inpatients, but also highlights music’s physiological effects, aesthetic and potentially transcendent properties, intrinsic value, and memorability, through use of a word cloud. Music medicine is a safe and inexpensive mood augmenter that could be more widely used.