• Olle Jane Z Sahler, Bryan C Hunter, and Jane L Liesveld.
• University of Rochester Medical Center, USA.
• Altern Ther Health Med. 2003 Nov 1; 9 (6): 70-4.

ContextBone marrow/stem cell transplantation is becoming an increasingly common treatment for a variety of hematologic disorders. The treatment process is not benign. Both physiologic and psychological regimen-related side effects are common, painful, and even life threatening. Music therapy is the prescribed use of music to aid in the prevention or amelioration of physical, psychological, or cognitive problems. Relaxation imagery, as used in this study, consisted of simple visualization and direct imagery-based suggestions. The mechanism of action of the intervention is hypothesized to be reduction of the stress response through neuroendocrine pathways.ObjectiveTo determine the feasibility of providing a combined music therapy and relaxation imagery intervention to patients on a bone marrow transplant (BMT) unit and to examine the effects on the frequency and intensity of pain and nausea, the two most common side effects associated with transplantation.DesignCase controlled study.SettingUniversity hospital-based bone marrow transplant unit serving patients of all ages.ParticipantsTransplant recipients aged 4 years or older.Intervention45-minute music-assisted relaxation and relaxation imagery sessions provided twice a week by a trained music therapist from date of enrollment into the study to discharge.Main Outcome MeasuresPre/post music/relaxation imagery intervention measures of pain and nausea using a visual analog scale; determination of time-to-engraftment.

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