Logo image
Back
Music Therapy Versus Cognitive Behavioral Therapy via Telehealth for Anxiety in Survivors of Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Music Therapy Versus Cognitive Behavioral Therapy via Telehealth for Anxiety in Survivors of Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Kevin T. Liou, Joke Bradt, M. Beatriz Currier, Raymond Baser, Katherine Panageas, Jodi MacLeod, Desiree Walker, Susan Q. Li, Ana Maria Lopez, Kelly McConnell, …
Journal of clinical oncology, v 44(5), pp 375-385
10 Feb 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO-25-00726
PMID: 41494146
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
url
https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO-25-00726View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Restricted CC BY V4.0

Abstract

ORIGINAL REPORTS
Purpose Anxiety is prevalent, disruptive, and undertreated among survivors of cancer. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the first-line treatment, but not all individuals have access, respond to treatment, or prefer this option because of stigma. Music therapy is effective for short-term anxiety reduction, but it is unknown whether it is noninferior to first-line CBT for long-term anxiety reduction. Methods This comparative effectiveness trial randomly assigned English- or Spanish-speaking survivors of cancer to seven weekly telehealth sessions of music therapy or CBT. The coprimary end points were changes in the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) anxiety score at weeks 8 and 26. The noninferiority margin was 0.35 standard deviations, informed by a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of 1.7 points. Secondary outcomes included fatigue, depression, insomnia, pain, cognitive dysfunction, and health-related quality of life. Results Among N = 300 patients, 74.7% was female, 76.5% was White, and 19.0% was Hispanic. At week 8, the mean change in HADS anxiety score was –3.12 (95% CI, –3.59 to –2.65) in music therapy and –2.97 (95% CI, –3.45 to –2.50) in CBT; the between-group difference was –0.15 (95% CI, –0.78 to 0.49), within the noninferiority margin of 1.20 (P < .001). At week 26, the mean change was –3.31 (95% CI, –3.78 to –2.85) in music therapy and –3.00 (95% CI, –3.47 to –2.53) in CBT; the between-group difference was –0.31 (95% CI, –0.95 to 0.32), within the noninferiority margin of 1.28 (P < .001). Both groups produced anxiety reductions exceeding the MCID and showed similar improvements in secondary outcomes. Conclusion Music therapy is noninferior to CBT for anxiety in survivors of cancer. Both telehealth interventions produced clinically meaningful, durable improvements in anxiety.

Metrics

5 Record Views

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

InCites Highlights

Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:

Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Oncology
Logo image