LIQUID MIND®

Select References to Studies Confirming the Benefits of Using Music in Healthcare


Over the years, there have been many studies confirming the benefits of listening to music for healthcare purposes. According to the NIH a growing body of research indicates that listening to or making music affects the brain in ways that may help promote health and manage disease symptoms. Below is just a sampling of the many studies that have been conducted. As well, you can click here to read a content analysis examining how Liquid Mind is used in healthcare, pre-sleep, yoga, craniosacral work, psychotherapy, massage, hypnotherapy, anger management, anxiety management, surgical recovery, and addiction recovery.

If you are a healthcare provider, please click here for a quick resource guide.

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Elizabeth A. Hoge, MD; Eric Bui, MD, PhD; Mihriye Mete, PhD; et al (November 9, 2020). Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction vs Escitalopram for the Treatment of Adults With Anxiety Disorders, A Randomized Clinical Trial. In this study, mindfulness-based stress reduction was a well-tolerated treatment option with comparable effectiveness to a first-line medication for patients with anxiety disorders. Read here


American College of Cardiology press release: Music as Medicine? 30 Minutes a Day Shows Benefits After Heart Attack. Daily music sessions found to reduce anxiety, pain and subsequent heart problems. Read here


Jia T, Ogawa Y, Miura M, Ito O, Kohzuki M (2016) Music Attenuated a Decrease in Parasympathetic Nervous System Activity after Exercise. PLoS ONE 11(2): e0148648. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0148648. Read here


Bernardi, L., Porta, C., Casucci, G., Balsamo, R., Bernardi, N. F., Fogari, R., & Sleight, P. (2009). Dynamic interactions between musical, cardiovascular, and cerebral rhythms in humans. Circulation, 119(25), 3171-80. Read here


Buysse, D. J. et al. (1989). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: A New Instrument for Psychiatric Practice and Research. Psychiatry Research. 28(2):193-213. Read here


Crow, B.J. (2004). Music and soulmaking: Toward a new theory of music therapy. The Scarecrow Press, Inc., Lanham, Maryland.


Dement, W. C. (2005). History of Sleep Medicine. Neurologic Clinics, 23(4), 945-65.


de Niet, G., Tiemens, B., Lendemeijer, B., & Hutschemaekers, G. (2009). Music-assisted relaxation to improve sleep quality: meta-analysis. J Adv Nurs., 65(7), 1356-64. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2009.04982.x Read here


Feng, F., Zhang, Y., Hou, J., Cai, J., Jiang, Q., Li, X., … Li, B. A. (2018). Can music improve sleep quality in adults with primary insomnia? A systematic review and network meta-analysis. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 77, 189-196. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2017.10.011. Read here


Harmat, L. , Takács, J., & Bódizs, R. (2008). Music improves sleep quality in students. J Adv Nurs., 62(3), 327-35. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2008.04602.x Read here


Hernández-Ruiz, E. (2005). Effect of music therapy on the anxiety levels and sleep patterns of abused women in shelters. Journal of Music Therapy, 42(2), 140-58. Read here


Jespersen, K. V., Koenig, J., Jennum, P., & Vuust P. (2015). Music for insomnia in adults. Cochrane Database Systematic Reviews, 8, CD010459. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010459.pub2 Read here


Johnson, J. E. (2003). The use of music to promote sleep in older women. J Community Health Nurs., 20(1), 27-35. Read here


Kravitz, L. The effects of music on exercise. Read here


Lai, H. L., & Good, M. (2004). Music improves sleep quality in older adults. J Adv Nurs., 53(1), 134-146. Read here


Matousek, M., Cervena, K., Zavesicka, L., & Brunovsky, M. (2004). Subjective and objective evaluation of alertness and sleep quality in depressed patients. BMC Psychiatry, 4 (14). doi: 10.1186/1471-244X-4-14 Read here


Morin, C. M., LeBlanc, M., Daley, M., Gregoire, J. P., & Mérette, C. (2006). Epidemiology of insomnia: prevalence, self-help treatments, consultations, and determinants of help-seeking behaviors. Sleep Med., 7(2),123-30. Read here


Newman, A., Boyd, C., Meyers, D., & Bonanno, L. (2010). Implementation of music as an anesthetic adjunct during monitored anesthesia care. J Perianesth Nurs., 25(6), 387-91. doi: 10.1016/j.jopan.2010.10.003 Read here


Richards, K. C. (1996). Sleep promotion. Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am., 8(1), 39-52. Read here


Richards, K. C. (1998). Effect of a back massage and relaxation intervention on sleep in critically ill patients. Am J Crit Care., 7(4), 288-99. Read here


Robinson, S. B., Weitzel, T., & Henderson, L. (2005). The Sh-h-h-h Project: nonpharmacological interventions. Holist Nurs Pract., 19(6), 263-6. Read here


Ryu, M. J., Park, J. S., & Park, H. (2012). Effect of sleep-inducing music on sleep in persons with percutaneous transluminal coronary angiography in the cardiac care unit. J Clin Nurs., 21(5-6), 728-35. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2011.03876.x Read here


Seth, A. K., Dienes, Z., Cleeremans, A., Overgaard, M., & Pessoa, L. (2008). Measuring consciousness: Relating behavioural and neurophysiological approaches. Trends Cogn Sci., 12(8), 314–321. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2008.04.008 Read here


Street, W., Weed, D., & Spurlock, A. (2014). Use of music in the treatment of insomnia: a pilot study. Holist Nurs Pract., 28(1), 38-42. doi: 10.1097/HNP.0000000000000005 Read here


Voss JA, Good M, Yates B, Baun MM, Thompson A, Hertzog M. (2004). Sedative music reduces anxiety and pain during chair rest after open-heart surgery. Pain, 112(1-2), 197-203. Read here


Williams, P. D., Piamjariyakul, U., Ducey, K., Badura, J., Boltz, K. D., Olberding, K., … Williams, A. R. (2006). Cancer treatment, symptom monitoring, and self-care in adults: Pilot study. Cancer Nurs., 29(5), 347-355. Read here


Inc.com, author Jeff Haden (2020) To Feel Less Stressed, Listen to (the Right) Music. New neuroscience reveals soothing music substantially reduces stress and improves performance. Read here