The effect of music therapy for patients with chronic pain: systematic review and meta-analysis.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
PubMed 40307940 · doi:10.1186/s40359-025-02643-x
What was done
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials across four electronic databases evaluating the efficacy of music therapy in patients with chronic pain. Investigators assessed chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and quality of life, using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and pooling standardized mean differences between test and control groups post-intervention. Subgroup analyses evaluated moderators including pain category, setting, delivery mode, music selection, practitioner training, and session duration.
What was found
Across 9 RCTs comprising 787 patients, music therapy significantly reduced chronic pain and depression compared to control groups post-intervention. No statistically significant improvements were observed for anxiety or quality of life. Exact numerical effect sizes, confidence intervals, and heterogeneity statistics were not reported in the abstract. Subgroup analyses suggested greater efficacy for cancer or chronic non-malignant pain, sessions held in health centers, patient-selected music, earphone or instrument delivery, trained professional administration, and 20-minute session durations.
Why it matters
This review supports music therapy as an accessible, non-pharmacological adjunctive tool for reducing chronic pain intensity and associated depressive symptoms, while identifying specific implementation parameters that may optimize effectiveness.
Limits
The abstract omits all numerical point estimates, standard mean differences, and confidence intervals. The total evidence base is limited to 9 trials with relatively small cumulative sample sizes (787 patients). Subgroup effects differed between developed and developing countries, and long-term treatment durability was not established.