The DOI matches its Crossref record; 77 of the 77 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The Anxiety‐ and Pain‐Reducing Effects of Music Interventions: A Systematic Review
Abstract
Musical interventions have been used in health care settings to reduce patient pain, anxiety, and stress, although the exact mechanism of these therapies is not well understood. This article provides a systematic review of 42 randomized controlled trials of the effects of music interventions in perioperative settings. Music intervention had positive effects on reducing patients' anxiety and pain in approximately half of the reviewed studies. Further research into music therapy is warranted in light of the low cost of implementation and the potential ability of music to reduce perioperative patient distress.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“Nevertheless, not all investigations found anxiety reductions through music listening [40–42].”
From The Effect of Music on the Human Stress Response (2013) · cites this paper as [41]
Citations
Cites
1 retracted
Cepeda, M. S., Carr, D. B., Lau, J., & Álvarez, H. (2006) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd004843.pub2 · Cited by 432
RetractedPractical Statistics for Medical Research.
Walter, S., & Altman, D. G. (1992) · Biometrics · doi:10.2307/2532320 · Cited by 11,666
Practical Statistics for Medical Research
Altman, D. G. (1990) · doi:10.1201/9780429258589 · Cited by 10,668
Schulz (1995) · doi:10.1001/jama.1995.03520290060030 · Cited by 5,634
CONSORT statement: extension to cluster randomised trials
Campbell, M. K., Elbourne, D. R., & Altman, D. G. (2004) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7441.702 · Cited by 2,557
Moher, D. (2001) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.285.15.1987 · Cited by 2,545
Notes on Nursing: What it is, and What it is Not
Nightingale, F. (2017) · PubMed · doi:10.7916/d8df87ks · Cited by 1,008
Hierarchy of evidence: a framework for ranking evidence evaluating healthcare interventions
Evans, D. (2003) · Journal of Clinical Nursing · doi:10.1046/j.1365-2702.2003.00662.x · Cited by 993
Notes on nursing. What it is, and what it is not
(1860) · Notes and Queries · doi:10.1093/nq/s2-ix.218.172b · Cited by 903
Bernardi, L., Porta, C., & Sleight, P. (2006) · Heart · doi:10.1136/hrt.2005.064600 · Cited by 579
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- O'Neill O, 2002, The efficacy of music therapy on patient recovery in the post‐anaesthetic care unit, J Adv Perioper Care, 1, 19
- 10.1080/J354v19n03_05 · DOI
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 701–766 of 766
von Georgi, R., & Herr, J. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-67506-9_31
Vallejo, T. M. S., Alvarez, G. O. E., & Pesántez, D. J. A. (2024) · AlfaPublicaciones · doi:10.33262/ap.v6i2.3.494 · Cited by 2
“Esto respalda, la preferencia por el uso de música o aromaterapia para establecer un ambiente relajante (Nilsson, 2008), especialmente entre odontólogos con 6-10 años de experiencia, ambos con 5 y 4 respuestas respectivamente.”
BackgroundEffect of music therapy on pain and anxiety during third molar surgery
Olaopa, O., Gbolahan, O. O., Olusanya, A. A., Fasola, A. O., & Arotiba, J. T. (2024) · Brazilian journal of oral sciences/Brazilian Journal of Oral Sciences · doi:10.20396/bjos.v23i00.8672741
“It was further revealed that patients’ selection of the type of music, as advocated by some investigators 38-40 , did not influence the effectiveness of music intervention.”
BackgroundJoshi, M. V., Bhakne, P., Kulkarni, C. A., Palekar, T. J. K., & Phansopkar, P. A. (2024) · Cureus · doi:10.7759/cureus.64615
“A telephonic follow-up was also done to check the long-term effect and progression.”
Auditory affective priming: The role of trait anxiety and stimulus type
Armitage, J. O., & Eerola, T. (2025) · Psychology of Music · doi:10.1177/03057356241300603
“However, in this instance, affective music stimuli have not tapped into anxiety-related processing biases as effectively as environmental sounds despite their widespread use in anxiety reduction interventions (Bradt et al., 2013; Mallik & Russo, 2022; Nilsson, 2008).”
Li, Z., & Hwang, S. (2025) · Psycho-Oncologie · doi:10.18282/po3657 · Cited by 1
BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF SINGING ON DIFFERENT SYSTEMS AND WELL-BEING OF MAN IN DIFFERENT TRIALS
Vishwakant (2023) · Journal of Science Innovations and Nature of Earth · doi:10.59436/jsiane.355.2583-2093
The Effect of Passive Music Intervention on Health-Related Quality of Life After Tonsillectomy
Zaubitzer, L., Wassmer, F., Kramer, B., Lammert, A., Sadick, H., Schell, A., Scherl, C., Rotter, N., & Häussler, D. (2025) · Annals of Otology Rhinology & Laryngology · doi:10.1177/00034894251339893
“15 Studies investigating the effect of listening to music during tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy in children found that pain medication consumption and immediate postoperative pain were lower in children who listened to music during surgery.”
Angelvy, P., Badin, M., Pelletier-Visa, M., Givron, P., Pereira, B., & Coudeyre, E. (2025) · medRxiv · doi:10.1101/2025.06.13.25329602
“To address these inconsistencies, recommendations have been formulated for the use of musical interventions in clinical practice (16,17).”
Music Therapy and Music-Based Interventions in Neurology and Neurological Rehabilitation
ALTENMÜLLER, E. O. (2025) · Neurocultural health and wellbeing · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-88578-5_12
Beck, B. D. (2025) · Tidsskriftet Dansk Musikterapi · doi:10.7146/tdm.v10i2.158473
The relative contributions of subjective and musical factors in music for sleep
Kirk, R., Panoutsos, G., van de Werken, M., & Timmers, R. (2025) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0330268
“Many cite guidelines given by Gaston for so-called sedative music [6,7], and Nilsson’s recommendations for the types of music suited for clinical settings [8,9].”
Effect of music therapy on pain in rheumatic and musculoskeletal disorders: A systematic review
Bouden, S., Rouached, L., Dhia, S. B., Saidane, O., Mahmoud, I., Tekaya, R., Tekaya, A. B., & ABDELMOULA, L. (2025) · British Journal of Pain · doi:10.1177/20494637251382096
“6 Beyond pain, music therapy has demonstrated ben-e fi cial effects in various other health conditions.”
Effekt passiver Musikintervention bei Patienten mit akuter unilateraler Vestibulopathie
Zaubitzer, L., Wassmer, F., Kramer, B., Scherl, C., Rotter, N., Schell, A., & Häussler, D. (2025) · Laryngo-Rhino-Otologie · doi:10.1055/a-2689-7215
Angelvy, P., Badin, M., Pelletier-Visa, M., Givron, P., Pereira, B., & Coudeyre, E. (2025) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0327259
“To address these inconsistencies, recommendations have been formulated for the use of musical interventions in clinical practice [17,18].”
The Influence of Music Tempo and Mode on Hearing Performance in Noise
Çetinkaya, M. M., Çetinkaya, Ü. C., Özkan, M. B., & Çekiç, Ş. (2025) · American Journal of Audiology · doi:10.1044/2025_aja-25-00079
Burzlaff, P., Deetjen, P., Simon, P., & Metzner, S. (2025) · Nordic Journal of Music Therapy · doi:10.1080/08098131.2025.2578850
“Despite being standardized, it considers the participants’ individual musical preferences, a key component of effective music therapy interventions (Bradt & Dileo, 2014; Chlan et al., 2013; Nilsson, 2008; Spintge, 2023).”
Çortu, A., Albayrak, M., Demirtas, H. O., & Yanmaz, L. E. (2025) · The Veterinary Journal · doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106518
Selmï, V., Taşpınar, M. Ş., Caniklioğlu, M., Sarı, S., Akyuz, M., & Işıkay, L. (2025) · Sao Paulo Medical Journal · doi:10.1590/1516-3180.2025.3273.28072025
Mistraletti, G., Solinas, A., Negro, S. D., Moreschi, C., Terzoni, S., Ferrara, P., Negri, K., Calabretta, D., Formenti, P., Formenti, A., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26027465
Desameau, P.-G., Bissonnette, J., Chevestrier-Lefeuvre, A., Guiné, J., Côté, A., Pinard, A. M., Rainville, P., & Ogez, D. (2025) · Cahiers francophones de soins palliatifs · doi:10.7202/1120292ar
Can, S., ÇİÇEK, S. C., ŞENDUR, E. G., & Gülsoy, G. (2025) · International Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine Research · doi:10.53811/ijtcmr.1729671
Jinekolojik muayene ve smear testi uygulanan kadınlarda müziğin anksiyete ve ağrı üzerine etkisi
SÜTCÜOĞLU, B. M., & Güler, M. (2025) · Turkish Journal of Clinics and Laboratory · doi:10.18663/tjcl.1763482
The Role of Emotion Modulation in Defiant Adolescence Music
Herr, J., & von Georgi, R. (2025) · Neurocultural health and wellbeing · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-72175-9_29
Sooratgar, A., Asadi, Y., Chalakinia, H., & Azade, P. (2026) · Middle East Journal of Rehabilitation and Health Studies · doi:10.5812/mejrh-166570
Zarei, M., Shahdadi, H., Naderifar, M., Assadibidmeshki, E., & Abdollahimohammad, A. (2026) · Orthopaedic Nursing · doi:10.1097/nor.0000000000001184
Behavioral Responses to Ultrasonic Digital Music Inspired by Murine Courtship SongsPreprint
Arbeláez, N., Cardona, J. Z., Pantoja‐Sánchez, H., Cardona‐Gómez, G. P., Surget, A., & Rodríguez, B. D. J. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.6171048
Petrovsky, D., Sefcik, J. S., McPhillips, M., Bradt, J., Pan, W., Wu, B., & Hodgson, N. A. (2026) · Research in Nursing & Health · doi:10.1002/nur.70060
Luciani, B. D., Alwan, A., Carlson, M., McNally, G. A., Hackney, M. E., Crasta, J. E., Schnell, P., Lustberg, M. B., & Worthen‐Chaudhari, L. (2026) · Trials · doi:10.1186/s13063-026-09486-w · Cited by 1
Iorio, A., Sperati, F., Frascione, P., & Perrone, M. (2026) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs16030317
“The anxiolytic effects observed are consistent with previous findings in surgical settings, where music has been shown to reduce discomfort and anxiety (Gogoularadja & Bakshi, 2020; Nilsson, 2008).”
Music therapy and music medicine in cancer care
Ricciarelli, A. (2026) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-30194-0.00036-9
Kölükçü, V., Birişik, Y., Biçer, İ., & Çatak, M. (2026) · Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care · doi:10.47582/jompac.1854078
Watts, D. A., Allsop, S. A., Compton, S., Zhang, X., Noah, J. A., & Hirsch, J. (2026) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.1116-25.2026
“…of evidence for the impact of music on social behavior and the potential bene fi cial e ff ects for reduction of anxiety, depression, and loneliness (Nilsson, 2008; Aalbers et al., 2017; Bradt et al., 2021; Chen et al., 2024), there remains little understanding of how speci fi c features of music…”
Chen, Y., Duan, Y., Zhang, J., Cai, T., Cao, G., & Yuan, C. (2026) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0344435
“Music can also modulate brainwave activity, coordinate muscle tone and movement, and exert an anxiolytic effect [53].”
Zhang, C., Zhang, H., Li, L., Xu, J., & Feng, Y. (2026) · Complementary Therapies in Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103375
Music as an Intervention for Pain Relief in Orthopedic Bedside Care.
Neri, K. K. K., Santos, C. G. O., Orsoli, V. R. R., Zangirolami-Raimundo, J., Filipini, R., & Raimundo, R. D. (2026) · Pain Management Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.pmn.2026.03.007
Music as a non-pharmacological sleep aid in older adults
Petrovsky, D., McPhillips, M., Li, J., & Ansah, O. O. (2026) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-443-33651-5.00001-x
Liu, K., & Zhou, S. (2021) · OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints)
Rocha, N. D. B., & Falabella, M. E. (2026) · Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology · doi:10.1016/j.oooo.2026.05.004
Misiołek, H., Zajączkowska, R., Kocot-Kępska, M., Woroń, J., Daszkiewicz, A., Marciniak, A., Żukowski, M., & Wordliczek, J. (2026) · Ból · doi:10.5604/01.3001.0055.8230
Chen, Y., Ain, H. Q. U., Jawed, I., Gulzar, A. H. B., Umair, M., Yokolo, H., & Kumar, D. (2026) · Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine · doi:10.1177/27683605261461167
Behavioral responses to ultrasonic digital music inspired by murine courtship songs
Córdoba, N. A., Cardona, J. Z., Pantoja‐Sánchez, H., Cardona‐Gómez, G. P., Surget, A., & Rodríguez, B. D. J. (2026) · Applied Animal Behaviour Science · doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2026.107113
Fulkerson, M. (2026) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780198929352.003.0004
Fulkerson, M. (2026) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780198929352.002.0007
Fulkerson, M. (2026) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780198929352.003.0003
Fulkerson, M. (2026) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780198929352.003.0008
Motivational Integration and Interaction
Fulkerson, M. (2026) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780198929352.003.0007
Fulkerson, M. (2026) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780198929352.003.0009
Sensory Motivation as Flexible Aggregation
Fulkerson, M. (2026) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780198929352.003.0006
Fulkerson, M. (2026) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780198929352.003.0002
Fulkerson, M. (2026) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780198929352.002.0005
Fulkerson, M. (2026) · doi:10.1093/9780198929352.001.0001
van Engelen, M., Verhoeven, J. G., Ista, E., Schiphof, D., Jeekel, J. J., & Klimek, M. (2026) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2025-114312
“Additionally, future research should address the efficacy of perioperative music interventions in the treatment of these symptoms in general practice situations and the identification of effective implementation strategies to further guide implementation efforts with durable and sustainable results.”
Cabon, M., Guétin, S., & Mick, G. (2025) · Dunod eBooks · doi:10.3917/dunod.poisb.2025.01.1663
Yeniğün, S. C., Ulubay, S., & Korkmaz, F. D. (2026) · Psychology Health & Medicine · doi:10.1080/13548506.2026.2706686
Chau, O. S. Y., Ip, P. N. P., Karen, N., & Jacqueline, C. P. W. (2026) · European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology · doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2026.115360
“Musicoterapia para reducir la Ansiedad Pediátrica en Procedimientos de Radiodiagnóstico”
Gavilánez, J. D. S., Ríos, S. A. J., Verdezoto, J. A. A., & Montoya, E. B. C. (2026) · Scientia Andes · doi:10.64230/sca.v2i3.8
Effects of music elements on mycophenolate glucuronidation in rat liver microsomes
Adhiya, J., Shalaby, A. H., Al-Dajani, A. R., El-Mahrouk, S. R., Olympus, C., Ahonen, H., El‐Kadi, A. O. S., & Kiang, T. K. L. (2026) · Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences · doi:10.3389/jpps.2026.17260
“Music has well-documented therapeutic benefits, including reducing stress and anxiety, supporting cardiovascular and respiratory function, alleviating pain, and altering physical function [16–18].”
Ashour, A. S., Alalfy, M., Alarsha, A. H., Abbassy, A. H., Greash, M. A., Kamal, I., & Sherbiny, A. (2026) · Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology · doi:10.52711/0974-360x.2026.00671
Espino‐Payá, A., Prantner, S., Chalas, N., Wollbrink, A., Gross, J., Pastor, M. C., Fuentes‐Sánchez, N., & Junghöfer, M. (2026) · iScience · doi:10.1016/j.isci.2026.117771
“3,86,87 and has been shown to improve mood, memory, and cognitive function in patients with dementia.”
Music Therapy, Applications in Geropsychology
Strong, J. V. (2017) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-287-082-7_264
Rethinking Harmony: Contemporary Conceptions of Music, Health, and Well-Being
MacDonald, R., & DeNora, T. (2026) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780198976936.003.0054
Music-based interventions in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
Chauhan, N., Mishra, R., Toshikhane, H., Patil, S., & Cherian, I. (2026) · Archives of Alzheimer s & Parkinson s Disease · doi:10.46439/alzheimers.1.003
Music-based interventions for people with kidney failure undergoing haemodialysis
Nishiwaki, H., Levack, W., Hasegawa, T., Ota, E., Noma, H., Suzuki, T., Watanabe, Y., Abe, Y., Tomioka, H., Kondo, D., et al. (2026) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd016139.pub2
Schaeffer, S. F., & Proquest Llc (2013) · ProQuest Demo Repository
Metadata
- Authors
- Nilsson, U.
- Affiliations
- Örebro University Hospital (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Nilsson, Ulrica
- ORCID
- Nilsson, Ulrica
- Venue
- AORN Journal
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2008-04
- Volume
- 87
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 780-807
- ISSN
- 0001-2092 (ISSN-L)
- 1878-0369
- OpenAlex
- W1979494212
- Cited by
- 766
- References
- 77
- Citations by year
- 2026: 45 · 2025: 60 · 2024: 43 · 2023: 47 · 2022: 48 · 2021: 75 · 2020: 52 · 2019: 63 · 2018: 39 · 2017: 37 · 2016: 43 · 2015: 40 · 2014: 39 · 2013: 33 · 2012: 27
- FWCI
- 3.24
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- AORN Journal (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Music Therapy and Health
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Music Perception
- Social Sciences › Education › Music Education and Analysis
- Keywords
- music intervention, music therapy, perioperative anxiety, postoperative pain, patient distress, surgical patients, stress reduction
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Anxiety, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Music Therapy, Operating Room Nursing, Pain, Preoperative Care, Research Design, Severity of Illness Index, Time Factors, Nursing Evaluation Research, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Treatment Outcome, Evidence-Based Medicine, Perioperative Care
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review