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Music

Music & Therapy: Evidence and References

What the literature supports, what it suggests, and where the evidence is still thin.

Written by: Ira ZootMedically reviewed by: Ketalux Clinical Review PanelLast updated: August 3, 2026Evidence: Mixed evidence quality - see levels on each citation
Quick answer
Is there real evidence that music helps in therapy?
Yes for some claims, and not yet for others. Music therapy has reasonable evidence for reducing anxiety and improving mood in clinical settings. Music's role in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is supported by qualitative and correlational research, not by randomized trials isolating music as the active ingredient. Claims about specific frequencies or brainwave entrainment are not well supported.

Established

Music listening reliably engages auditory, limbic, and reward circuitry, and music-based interventions reduce self-reported anxiety across a range of medical contexts.

Emerging

Music's contribution to outcome in psychedelic-assisted therapy is an active research area with promising but preliminary findings. Study designs rarely isolate music from set, setting, and therapeutic relationship.

Not supported

Specific "healing frequency" claims, brainwave entrainment as a therapeutic mechanism, and any suggestion that music substitutes for clinical care.

References

  1. Kaelen et al. — The hidden therapist: evidence for a central role of music in psychedelic therapy. Psychopharmacology · 2018 Review
  2. Barrett et al. — Emotions and brain function altered by music during psilocybin experiences. Scientific Reports · 2018 RCT
  3. Bradt & Dileo — Music interventions for preoperative anxiety (Cochrane review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2013 Meta-analysis
  4. Salimpoor et al. — Anatomically distinct dopamine release during anticipation and experience of peak emotion to music. Nature Neuroscience · 2011 Cohort
  5. Koelsch — Brain correlates of music-evoked emotions. Nature Reviews Neuroscience · 2014 Review
  6. Garcia-Argibay et al. — Efficacy of binaural auditory beats in cognition, anxiety, and pain (meta-analysis). Psychological Research · 2019 Meta-analysis
  7. Lehrer & Gevirtz — Heart rate variability biofeedback: how and why does it work?. Frontiers in Psychology · 2014 Review

Related reading

Educational content only. Not medical advice.

About the author
Ira Zoot

Independent publisher and editor of Ketalux, based in Chicago, Illinois. Ira commissions, edits, and reviews every article on the site and believes ketamine therapy — used responsibly — offers real hope for people living with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain. Contact: ira@idigits.com.

Educational use only. The content on this page is provided for general educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Ketamine and related therapies carry risks and are appropriate only under qualified medical supervision. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional about your individual situation. Information may change as research evolves.