Most trials involved music therapy, which typically involves interactions with a music therapist, while a handful of trials looked at music medicine, which mainly involves exposure to “prerecorded music experiences” selected for their effects, Lee writes in the Journal of Music Therapy. The trials examined those effects on participants’ self-reported pain intensity, emotional distress from pain, vital signs and amount of pain relief medication taken. Seven of the studies found a significant decrease in anesthetic use in music groups compared to non-music groups. “Music medicine and music therapy are not meant to be alternative forms of therapy, rather they are provided as a complementary treatment to existing care,” he said. “There are many things to consider when devising a music program for patients, so I would recommend consulting a music therapist when establishing a music medicine programme,” Lee said.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 04, 2016 22:05 UTC