Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2001 Dec; 21(12): 891-4.

[Clinical observation of music therapy combined with anti-tumor drugs in treating 116 cases of tumor patients]

Cai GR, Li PW, Jiao LP.

Oncology Department, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of music therapy in treating tumor patients. METHODS: Music therapy combined with anti-tumor drugs, including chemotherapy and Chinese drugs, was given to 162 tumor patients according to syndrome differentiation to observe the change of self-rating depression scale (SDS), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), minnesota multiphasic personality inventory (MMPI), Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAMD) and T lymphocyte subsets (immuno-histochemical assay), NK cell anti-tumor activity (NAG method), etc. while 46 caces didn't receive music therapy were taken as the control group. RESULTS: The scale marks of SDS and SAS of the treated group after treatment were obviously lower than that of the control group significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). After treatment, the average values of MMPI on falseness (F), hypochondriasis (HS), depression (D) and psychosthenia (Pt) in the treated group were all improved (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05); but in the control group, significant difference only showed in MMPI on HS (P < 0.05). HAMD in the treated group revealed some improvement in insomnia, early awakening, daily work and interest, systemic symptoms and hypochondriasis (P < 0.05), and significant improvement in depression, difficulty in falling asleep, psychiatric anxiety and somatic anxiety (P < 0.01); while in the control group, only work interest and HS had some improvement (P < 0.05). CD8 percent was reduced in both groups after treatment (P < 0.01), but in the treated group CD3, CD4 and CD4/CD8 ratio were not significantly changed after treatment (P > 0.05); while in the control group they lowered obviously (P < 0.05). As for NK cell anti-tumor activity in the treated group before and after treatment, it was not significantly lowered (P > 0.05); while in the control group the lowering after treatment was significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Music therapy could regulate the emotion of tumor patient, optimize the emotional effect, improve the somatic symptoms, enhance the immune function, motivate the active principle and raise the self-regulating power in the body.