Music and Medicine

Case study evaluation of live music-assisted reminiscence therapy group for mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia among Chinese Malaysians

Yong Jia Lim — 2026-07-26

Malaysia and its rapidly aging multi-ethnic population have an increasing need for culturally tailored dementia care. This study examined the feasibility of a live music-assisted reminiscence therapy group using culturally relevant Chinese music from the 1940s–1980s to support three Chinese Malaysian dyads of people with mild cognitive decline (mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia) and their caregivers. The intervention involved a single 60-minute session delivered by a professional clarinet quartet. Data were collected at baseline, and at one-week and four-week post-program. Outcome measures included the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire, Zarit Burden Interview-Short, and the Gain in Alzheimer Care Instrument, assessing neuropsychiatric symptoms, caregiver burden, and caregiving gains, respectively. Quantitative data were analyzed using reliable change indices, while qualitative data from semi-structured interviews were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Two dyads reported improvements in neuropsychiatric symptoms, while one dyad reported reduced caregiver burden and another reported increased caregiving gains. Four themes emerged regarding program impact: (1) improved mood and happy recollections, (2) improved quality of life, (3) cultural considerations, and (4) changes to program structure. This study lays the groundwork for live music-assisted reminiscence therapy groups in Malaysia and highlights directions for future research.

Keywords: cognitive impairment, dementia, music, reminiscence therapy, social prescribing.

Evaluating the use of music therapy to address anxiety and self-efficacy for women undergoing fertility treatments

Alison Short — 2026-07-26

The use of music therapy to address anxiety and self-efficacy for women undergoing fertility treatments remains largely underexplored. Women experiencing fertility issues are known to experience psychological distress due to feelings of inadequacy, loss of identity, social stigma, and invasive medical procedures with uncertain outcomes. Growing evidence confirms the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapy, and mind/body approaches in managing infertility-related distress. Music therapy in the mental health context is generally embedded in positive psychology and focuses on strengthening positive resources to improve quality of life. Five participants attended two music therapy sessions as part of this mixed-methods feasibility study. Validated questionnaires were employed to measure the primary outcomes of state anxiety and self-efficacy before and after the music therapy intervention. It was found that the music therapy intervention significantly decreased state anxiety and improved self-efficacy in maintaining a positive attitude and reducing stress. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data suggested music therapy was an enjoyable intervention that facilitated emotional self-expression and connection between participants and equipped participants with new resources for self management of anxiety. Outcomes of this mixed method study verify the feasibility and acceptability of using music therapy in this clinical context.

Keywords: music therapy; infertility; anxiety; assisted reproductive technology; fertilization in vitro

Effects of music therapy on patients with psychotic disorders: A systematic review

Raúl Pérez Núñez — 2026-07-26

Psychotic disorders involve a wide range of symptoms that do not always respond adequately to traditional treatments. In this regard, music therapy emerges as a powerful tool with potential benefits in the interdisciplinary management of patients with these disorders. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the effects of including music therapy alongside standard treatment for persons with psychotic disorders. The results show numerous benefits in areas such as general mental state, negative, affective, and neurotic symptoms, functionality, cognitive status, behavior, emotional regulation, treatment adherence, and quality of life. To conclude, these findings strongly support the inclusion of music therapy in the comprehensive treatment of patients with psychotic disorders.

Keywords: Music therapy, psychotic disorders, psychosis, schizophrenia, mental health.

Familiar music modulates cortical oscillatory activity after severe stroke: an EEG case series

Ana Luiza de Lima Afonso — 2026-07-26

Stroke is associated with altered cortical electrical activity, characterized by increased delta and reduced alpha activity on electroencephalography (EEG). Music-based stimulation has been proposed as a strategy to modulate brain activity after stroke. However, electrophysiological responses may vary according to the extent of cerebral injury. This study aimed to examine alpha and delta EEG activity in patients with severe ischemic stroke during rest and familiar music listening. This case series included four patients in acute and subacute phases after ischemic stroke, with National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores ≥ 16. EEG recordings were obtained using an AB experimental design, consisting of a resting condition (phase A, 1.5 minutes) followed by familiar music listening (phase B, 1.5 minutes). Alpha (8-12 Hz), delta (0.5-4 Hz), and delta-alpha ratio (DAR) values were analysed. Heterogeneous electrophysiological responses were observed among patients. The two individuals with lower stroke severity demonstrated increased alpha-band activity during music listening, whereas the two patients with greater neurological impairment exhibited elevated delta activity and higher DAR values. The patient with the most severe stroke showed persistently abnormal DAR values (> 1), indicating greater cortical dysfunction. Familiar music listening was associated with differential EEG responses after stroke, with increased alpha activity and lower delta–alpha ratio in less severe cases, whereas more severe cases showed persistent delta dominance.

Keywords: Brain Activity; Alpha and delta waves; stroke; musical stimulation, EEG

Music as a biological signal of safety: A polyvagal perspective on compassionate musician–patient interaction in healthcare.

Peter Shannon — 2026-07-26

Healthcare environments present significant environmental and psychological stressors that can trigger a patient's autonomic threat-detection systems, resulting in sustained sympathetic arousal that impairs recovery and emotional regulation. While live music is widely recognized as a comforting intervention in clinical settings, it is often framed merely as subjective entertainment, obscuring the neurophysiological mechanisms through which musical encounters may influence patient regulation. This perspective paper establishes a theoretical framework combining compassion science and Polyvagal Theory (PVT) to explain how live musical encounters may function as potent cues of environmental safety capable of supporting autonomic regulation and co-regulation. By examining the training curriculum of the American Institute for Music and Healing (AIMH) ‘Awakening the Inner Gift’ program, we illustrate how live musician–patient interactions may function as stabilizing regulatory processes within healthcare environments. These encounters demonstrate patterns consistent with Polyvagal Theory that are interpreted through anecdotal observations from patients and musicians. To ground this theoretical framework in clinical reality, we present anecdotal narrative feedback from 18 patients and performing musicians in an outpatient cancer center. These brief clinical observations demonstrate experiential themes of emotional regulation, autobiographical memory activation, and relational reciprocity. Ultimately, This paper suggests that a foundational understanding of Polyvagal Theory should form part of the education of music-in-health practitioners, equipping musicians with a neurophysiological framework for understanding how compassionate musical interactions may support autonomic regulation and patient wellbeing.

Keywords: Polyvagal Theory, Compassion Science, Music and health, Arts and health, Music in healthcare, Music and wellbeing

Shared scholarship, shared responsibility: Reflections on reference integrity and new research in music and medicine

Amy Clements-Cortés — 2026-07-26

It is timely today to reflect on how the landscape of researching and publishing is changing rapidly with the increased use and availability of Generative AI tools (GenAI)...