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Music-induced analgesia in chronic pain conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Eduardo A. Garza‐VillarrealiD, Victor Pando‐NaudeiD, Peter VuustiD, Christine Elizabeth ParsonsiD

Abstract

Music is increasingly used as an adjuvant for chronic pain management as it is not invasive, inexpensive, and patients usually report positive experiences with it. However, little is known about its clinical efficacy in chronic pain patients. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we investigated randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of adult patients that reported any type of music intervention for chronic pain, chosen by the researcher or patient, lasting for any duration. Searches were performed using PsycINFO, Scopus and PubMed for RTCs published until the end of May 2016. The primary outcome was reduction in self-reported pain using a standardized pain measurement instrument reported post-intervention. The secondary outcomes were: quality of life measures, depression and anxiety measures, among others. The study was pre-registered with PROSPERO (CRD42016039837) and the meta-analysis was done using RevMan. We identified 768 titles and abstracts, and we included 14 RTCs that fulfilled our criteria. The sample size of the studies varied between 25 and 200 participants. We found that music reduced chronic pain, and depression, with higher effect size on pain and depression. We also found music had a higher effect when the participant chose the music in contrast with researcher-chosen music. The sample size of RCTs was small and sometimes with different outcome measures. Our analysis suggests that music may be beneficial as an adjuvant for chronic pain patients, as it reduces self-reported pain and its common co-morbidities. Importantly, the analgesic effect of music appears higher with self-chosen over researcher-chosen music.

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Abstract summary

Verified abstract synthesis

Claude Opus 5.5 · xhigh effort · 18 Oct 2026 · from the abstract · CC BY-NC 4.0

Pooling 14 randomised trials, music lowered self-reported chronic pain and depression, and the effect was larger when patients chose the music rather than the researchers.

Music is already used as a cheap, non-invasive add-on in chronic pain care, yet the authors say little is established about its clinical efficacy in these patients. Pooling the randomised evidence puts a direction on the benefit and separates patient-chosen from researcher-chosen music.

Key results

  1. SuggestedAcross the included trials, music interventions lowered chronic pain and also depression scores.

    Pooled from 14 RTCs whose individual sample sizes ranged from 25 to 200 participants; the abstract reports no effect size, confidence interval, p value or heterogeneity statistic. · Abstract

  2. SuggestedAnalgesia was greater when participants selected the music themselves than when the researcher selected it.

    Stated as a higher effect for self-chosen music in both the results and conclusions of the abstract, with no numbers for either arm and no test of the difference. · Abstract

  3. ShownThe evidence base located by the search was small: screening produced only fourteen eligible randomised trials.

    768 titles and abstracts were identified in PsycINFO, Scopus and PubMed for trials published up to the end of May 2016, of which 14 RTCs met the inclusion criteria. · Abstract

Methods, data and reproducibility

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials in adult patients receiving any music intervention for chronic pain, of any duration, chosen by patient or researcher. PsycINFO, Scopus and PubMed were searched to the end of May 2016. Primary outcome: post-intervention self-reported pain on a standardised instrument; secondary: quality of life, depression, anxiety. Pooling used RevMan.

  • randomised controlled trials of music interventions for chronic pain, retrieved by database search and screened · human · n = 768 titles and abstracts identified; 14 RTCs included · PROSPERO CRD42016039837
  • participants enrolled in the included trials · human · n = between 25 and 200 participants per study
Methods & tools
PsycINFO, Scopus, PubMed, RevMan, PROSPERO
Reproducibility gaps
The review was pre-registered with PROSPERO (CRD42016039837) and pooled in RevMan, but no protocol link, extracted-data file, software version or analysis script is given in the text.
Limitations (3)
  • The authors note that the randomised trials had small sample sizes and did not always use the same outcome measures. · stated by the authors
  • No pooled effect size, confidence interval or heterogeneity statistic is reported in the available text, so the size and consistency of the benefit cannot be assessed. · noted in this summary
  • The abstract does not say whether self-chosen versus researcher-chosen music was randomised within trials or compared across them, so that contrast may be confounded by differences in trial design and population. · noted in this summary

Who should read:Read this if you weigh non-pharmacological adjuncts for chronic pain and want the pooled randomised evidence on music, including whether letting patients pick the music matters.

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