Summary of music and art therapy applications in cancer care.
Domain
Details
Primary benefits
• Reduction in anxiety, depression, and emotional distress• Improved mood and self-expression• Enhanced quality of life and spiritual well-being• Decreased caregiver burden and emotional fatigue
Mechanisms of action
• Modulation of the limbic system (music: amygdala, striatum)• Externalization of inner experiences (art)• Distraction and relaxation• Facilitation of emotional processing and coping
Delivery formats
• Music: live sessions, recorded playlists, songwriting, lyric analysis• Art: drawing, painting, collage, journaling• Individual or group settings, in person or virtual
Settings for use
• Hospitals (inpatient and outpatient)• Oncology clinics• Home care and hospice• Pediatric and geriatric units
Practical advantages
• Minimal equipment needed• Easy to personalize based on preferences• Accessible to patients with verbal or mobility limitations
Safety considerations
• Generally well tolerated• Caution with sound sensitivity or emotional overwhelm• Requires facilitator support in trauma-informed contexts
Music and art therapy are most effective when integrated as part of a comprehensive care model that acknowledges the psychosocial and spiritual aspects of cancer.
Declarations
Author contributions
SDG: Conceptualization, Investigation, Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing, Validation, Supervision. The author has read and approved the submitted version.
Conflicts of interest
The author declares that there are no conflicts of interest.
Open Exploration maintains a neutral stance on jurisdictional claims in published institutional affiliations and maps. All opinions expressed in this article are the personal views of the author(s) and do not represent the stance of the editorial team or the publisher.
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