Music Therapy News and Research

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"Music Therapy" means the specialized professional, therapeutic use of music in the service to individuals with needs in mental health, physical health, habilitation, rehabilitation, special education, self-care or personal growth.

Virtual reality and music may help lower blood pressure during emergencies

A virtual reality landscape of a flowing river and trees, accompanied by classical music, can help to reduce patients' blood pressure significantly within 15 minutes of their being seen in an emergency department.

25 Sep 2026

The music in psychedelic therapy may be more than background sound

A narrative review examines how music interacts with psychedelics, psychological support, and treatment context in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, arguing that its role cannot be understood as an isolated component. The authors highlight limited evidence on music-specific effects and propose studying PAP as a complex intervention, with music described according to its therapeutic function rather than fixed playlists or genres.

16 Sep 2026

Can doula care improve pregnancy outcomes?

The role of doulas in maternal care is evolving, with studies suggesting improved health outcomes, yet further research is needed for comprehensive insights.

27 Apr 2026

Music sessions aid bonding and provide respite in NICUs

Playing soothing live music in intensive care units not only helps parents bond with their baby but also provides a moment's respite from an uncertain and stressful situation, says a senior doctor in the Christmas issue of The BMJ.

18 Dec 2025

Music therapy speeds anesthesia recovery in colorectal surgery

Integrating music therapy with anesthesia recovery care enhances recovery in colorectal cancer patients, reducing complications and stabilizing vital signs.

28 Nov 2025

Listening to slow-tempo music may boost sleep quality for people over 50

Music therapy significantly improves sleep quality in adults aged 50 and above, showing a moderate-to-large effect compared with control conditions. However, high heterogeneity and methodological weaknesses mean the evidence remains of very low certainty and requires confirmation in larger, standardized trials.

10 Nov 2025

Intraoperative music therapy reduces anesthetic use and physiological stress

A groundbreaking study published in the peer-reviewed journal Music and Medicine demonstrates that intraoperative music therapy significantly reduces the amount of propofol and fentanyl required during laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed under general anesthesia.

27 Oct 2025

Active music therapy offers greater pain relief for hospital patients

A new study from University Hospitals Connor Whole Health found that music therapy interventions involving singing, active instrument play, and relaxation/imagery may be more effective for reducing pain intensity than receptive interventions only involving live or recorded music listening among hospitalized patients with moderate-to-severe pain.

25 Sep 2025

Music therapy improves patient experience and outcomes in the cardiac ICU

Music therapy could significantly reduce heart rate, blood pressure and patient–ventilator asynchronies for patients admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit (ICU), according to research being presented at ACC Latin America 2025 taking place September 18-20 in Mexico City.

18 Sep 2025

Most alternative treatments for autism lack reliable evidence

The most comprehensive quantitative review of research into complementary and alternative treatments for autism has found no strong evidence to support their use, and that the safety of these treatments was rarely assessed.

28 Aug 2025

Lavender oil could speed recovery after brain surgery

Lavender essential oil aromatherapy improves sleep quality and reduces postoperative delirium in brain surgery patients, offering a natural aid for recovery.

12 Aug 2025

Music therapy approach can ease distress in dementia patients

A new treatment that uses music therapy on dementia wards could improve care and support for some of the NHS's most vulnerable patients.

16 Jul 2025

A systematic review of music therapy in stroke rehabilitation

Announcing a new article publication for BIO Integration journal. This article provides a systematic review of music therapy research progress and clinical applications in stroke rehabilitation.

4 Jul 2025

Non-drug therapies show real promise in calming agitation in Alzheimer’s

Non-drug therapies like music and light outperform medications in managing dementia-related agitation, enhancing patient care and safety for caregivers.

28 May 2025

Harnessing the healing power of music in clinical care

Rhonda Winegar remembers watching the 2014 documentary "I'll Be Me," which chronicled country music legend Glen Campbell's struggles with Alzheimer's disease.

16 Apr 2025

Music therapy intervention improves mental health for heart failure and COPD patients

A new study from University Hospitals Connor Whole Health found that it was feasible to conduct a hybrid music therapy intervention for patients with heart failure and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

16 Apr 2025

Music-based therapy may benefit people living with dementia

A new Cochrane review has found evidence that music-based therapy may benefit people living with dementia, particularly by improving symptoms of depression.

7 Mar 2025

$1.5 million grant supports alternatives to opioids initiative at University Hospitals

A grant of nearly $1.5 million from the Department of Health and Human Services through its Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will enable University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center to develop and implement an Alternatives to Opioids (ALTO) program within its Emergency Department (ED).

6 Dec 2024

Can music therapy be the breakthrough dementia care desperately needs?

Music therapy reduces distress and improves well-being in advanced dementia by meeting unmet needs, enhancing caregiver-patient understanding, and fostering humanizing connections in institutional care settings.

18 Nov 2024

Music aids recovery after surgery

Looking for a creative way to quicken your recovery from surgery? The key may be found in listening to music, according to research presented at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2024 in San Fransisco, California.

18 Oct 2024