Music Therapy Relieves Fibromyalgia Symptoms, Improves Quality of Life

Affecting patients' social, personal and working life, fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that requires a multidisciplinary approach to address its persistent and complex symptomology. Maria Dolores Onieva-Zafra, from University of Granada (Spain), and colleagues studied patients suffering from fibromyalgia from three regions in Spain. The researchers applied a relaxation technique based on guided imagery and music therapy to patients, in a series of sessions conducted by a researcher. Patients were given a CD to listen at home. Then, researchers measured a number of variables associated to the main symptoms of fribromyalgia –as pain intensity, quality of life, impact of the condition on patient's daily life, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, self-efficiency, well-being.  Music therapy, when combined with other relaxation techniques based on guided imagery, significantly reduced pain, depression and anxiety, and improves sleep among patients suffering from fibromyalgia. As a result, music therapy enhanced the patients' quality of life. The team concludes that: “The findings of this pilot study suggest the importance of music therapy as a nursing intervention and justify further investigation into music as a self-management intervention to reduce pain and depression.”