A comparative study on the effects of music intervention on anxiety, depression, and immune function indicators in cancer patients
Abstract
Background: Based on the bidirectional regulation of modulation of psychological emotion and physiological immune function through the neural auditory pathway, music intervention has shown important value in the integrated treatment of cancer. This study adopted a randomized controlled trial method; 180 cancer patients were randomly assigned to the experimental group (individualized music therapy) and the control group (routine care) respectively, and the subjects were assessed before and after an 8-week intervention. The main outcome was the change in anxiety and depression score (HADS) and immune function (CD4+/CD8+) and IL-6. Methods: The results showed that the intervention group HADS-A score decreased by 40.2%, and the CD4+/CD8 plus ratio increased by 33.3%, and the content of IL-6 decreased by 38.8%. In addition, the emotional improvement was significantly positively correlated with the change in immune function (r = −0.42). Results: The results showed that music intervention can simultaneously improve the psychological state and immune function of cancer patients, which may be realized through the modulation of psychoneuroimmunological.
Copyright (c) 2025 GAOHUA YUE

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
1. Dai Y, Jiao L, Sun C, et al. Current status of music intervention on anxiety and depression outcomes and assessment tools in lung cancer. World Science and Technology Modernization of Chinese Medicine. 2024; 26(07): 1715–1734.
2. Chen HH, Lai CH, Hou YJ, et al. The Efficacy of Music Intervention in Patients with Cancer Receiving Radiation Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cancers. 2025; 17(4): 691. doi: 10.3390/cancers17040691
3. Gezgin Yazıcı H, Ökten Ç, Karabulut E, et al. Effect of Music on Anxiety and Fatigue in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Archives of Iranian Medicine. 2024; 27(11): 611–617. doi: 10.34172/aim.31258
4. Yang HF, Chang WW, Chou YH, et al. Impact of background music listening on anxiety in cancer patients undergoing initial radiation therapy: a randomized clinical trial. Radiation oncology (London, England). 2024; 19(1): 73–73.
5. Behzad A, Feldmann-Schulz C, Lenz B, et al. TaKeTiNa Music Therapy for Outpatient Treatment of Depression: Study Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2024; 13(9): 2494. doi: 10.3390/jcm13092494
6. Kristin S, Amanda K, Elizabeth H, et al. Shifting perspectives and transformative change: Parent perspectives of an active music engagement intervention for themselves and their child with cancer. Pediatric blood & cancer. 2024; 71(5): e30913–e30913. doi: 10.1002/pbc.30913
7. Victorson D, Mishra KK, Sauer J, et al. Implementation Readiness and Initial Effects of a Brief Mindfulness Audio Intervention Compared with a Brief Music Control During Daily Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer: A Randomized Pilot Study. Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health. 2024; 13. doi: 10.1177/27536130241249140
8. Du Y jie, Guan Y hui, Thome KT, et al. Music Therapy and Music Intervention for NSCLC Patients Undergoing PET with Fear of Cancer Recurrence. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2024; 23. doi: 10.1177/15347354241269898
9. Ran R, Ying Y, Zhang W. Effects of Music Intervention on Anxiety, Depression Symptoms and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients: A Meta-Analysis. Actas espanolas de psiquiatria. 2023; 51(6): 250–261.
10. Yang HF, Ke YF, Tsai PF, et al. The Effectiveness of Music Interventions for Improving Anxiety Symptoms in Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy. International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics. 2023; 117(2): e453. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2023.06.1641
11. Rabinowitch T, Dassa A, Sadot AS, et al. Outcomes and experiences of an online Balance-Space music therapy intervention for cancer patients: A mixed methods study. The Arts in psychotherapy. 2023; 82: 101998–101998. doi: 10.1016/j.aip.2023.101998
12. Zang L, Cheng C, Zhou Y, et al. Music therapy effect on anxiety reduction among patients with cancer: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology. 2023; 13. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1028934
13. Sezgin MG, Bektas H. The effect of music therapy interventions on fatigue in patients with hematological cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Supportive Care in Cancer. 2022; 30(11): 8733–8744. doi: 10.1007/s00520-022-07198-w
14. Liu P, Huang S. The Application of Music Therapy in Children with Autism. Current Psychiatry Research and Reviews. 2025; 21(3): 250–259. doi: 10.2174/0126660822277411240111103907
15. Liu P, Huang S. The Role and Effect of Music Therapy in Combination Therapy for Cancer Management. Current Medicinal Chemistry. 2025; 32(40): 9017–9029. doi: 10.2174/0109298673307490240614053104
16. Schreck B, Loewy J, LaRocca Renato V, et al. Amplified Cardiopulmonary Recordings: Music Therapy Legacy Intervention with Adult Oncology Patients and Their Families-A Preliminary Program Evaluation. Journal of palliative medicine 2022; 25(9). doi: 10.1089/jpm.2022.0017
17. Nguyen KT, Xiao J, Chan DNS, et al. Effects of music intervention on anxiety, depression, and quality of life of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Supportive Care in Cancer. 2022; 30(7): 5615–5626. doi: 10.1007/s00520-022-06881-2
18. MacLean JA, Stegenga KA, Henley AK, et al. Implementing NIH Behavior Change Consortium Treatment Fidelity Recommendations in a Multi-Site Randomized Controlled Trial of an Active Music Engagement Intervention for Young Children with Cancer and Parents. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2022; 21. doi: 10.1177/15347354221140491
19. Bradt J, Dileo C, Myers-Coffman K, et al. Music interventions for improving psychological and physical outcomes in people with cancer. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2021; 2022(9). doi: 10.1002/14651858.cd006911.pub4
20. Sheikh-Wu SF, Kauffman MA, Anglade D, et al. Effectiveness of different music interventions on managing symptoms in cancer survivors: A meta-analysis. European Journal of Oncology Nursing. 2021; 52: 101968. doi: 10.1016/j.ejon.2021.101968
21. Zeppegno P, Krengli M, Ferrante D, et al. Psychotherapy with Music Intervention Improves Anxiety, Depression and the Redox Status in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Cancers. 2021; 13(8): 1752–1752. doi: 10.3390/cancers13081752
22. Li N, Liu D, Zhang L, et al. Music intervention on physiological and psychological responses of patients with cancer. Medicine. 2021; 100(8): e24865. doi: 10.1097/md.0000000000024865
