Music therapy for end-of-life care

Journal

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Year

2025

Abstract

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To evaluate the benefits and harms of standard care combined with music therapy for the management of physical symptoms and psychosocial outcomes in individuals receiving end-of-life care, compared with (a) standard care alone or (b) standard care plus other non-music interventions To evaluate the relative benefits and harms of different types of music therapy interventions (e.g. music listening, songwriting, or improvisation as part of a structured therapeutic process) for the management of physical symptoms and psychosocial outcomes in individuals receiving end-of-life care.

Music and Health Institute Terms

Chronic Disease; Depression; Anxiety; Mood; Psychological Outcomes; Emotional Functioning; Palliative Care; Terminally Ill; Quality of LIfe; Suffering; Music Therapy; Hospice Care; Composition; Improvisation; Receptive Music Methods; Live Music Listening; Recreative Music Methods; Singing a Song; Playing an Instrument; Recorded Music Listening; Music Listening

Indexed Terms

Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Terminal Care

Study Type

Editorials; Opinions; Position Papers

PubMed ID

PMID: 41347622 PMCID: PMC12679691

Document Type

Article

Share

COinS