Five-Element Music Therapy Impacts Psychological Wellbeing and Physiological Markers in Chemotherapy PatientsMusic therapy may reduce anxiety and depression in chemotherapy patients

This meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy of Five-Element Music Therapy (FEMT) as a non-pharmacological intervention for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The study analyzed data from 1,588 patients to determine the impact of FEMT on psychological distress, sleep quality, and physiological markers. The findings suggest that FEMT provides a measurable benefit in managing the psychological burden associated with intensive oncological treatments.

Regarding psychological outcomes, the analysis demonstrated significant reductions in anxiety scores across multiple scales. Specifically, patients using FEMT showed a mean difference of -7.16 on the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and -5.19 on the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA). These results indicate that structured musical interventions can effectively mitigate the acute stress and apprehension associated with chemotherapy cycles.

Depression scores also showed significant improvement in the FEMT cohort. The data revealed a mean difference of -7.07 on the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and -5.89 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD). These statistically significant reductions suggest that FEMT may serve as a viable supportive care tool to manage the depressive symptoms often exacerbated by chronic illness and treatment-related fatigue.

Sleep quality and overall quality of life (QoL) were also positively impacted by the intervention. Patients reported improved sleep quality as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), with a mean difference of -2.52. Furthermore, the Quality of Life Core Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) showed a significant increase in overall health status, suggesting that the intervention enhances the patient's subjective experience of well-being during treatment.

Physiological markers provided additional evidence of the therapy's potential systemic effects. The analysis noted an increase in CD3% and CD4% immune cells, alongside an increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. Conversely, nitric oxide (NO) levels were observed to decrease. These changes suggest that FEMT may influence the body's physiological response to stress and inflammation, though these specific findings require further investigation to establish definitive clinical pathways. Despite these positive results, the study notes several limitations that clinicians must consider. The methodological quality of the included studies was generally low, and most outcomes were graded as having low or very low certainty of evidence. Furthermore, the geographic concentration of the source data means the generalizability of FEMT outside of the Chinese clinical context remains uncertain. Clinicians should view these findings as a promising signal for integrative supportive care rather than a definitive clinical protocol.