Music Listening in Medicine and Healthcare: A Scoping Review

Background: Music listening is increasingly applied in medical and healthcare settings as a non-pharmacological intervention to modulate psychophysical outcomes such as anxiety, pain, stress, mood, and physiological parameters. Despite a rapidly expanding evidence base, receptive music-based interventions remain highly heterogeneous with respect to theoretical rationale, music design, and methodological rigor. Objective: The primary aim of this review was to critically examine methodological and conceptual limitations of music listening approaches (based on pre-recorded music listening, without the presence of the music therapist during the listening phase) and to map the range of such interventions across clinical domains. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed was independently conducted by two reviewers for randomized controlled trials published between January 2020 and December 2025. Eligible studies investigated psychophysical outcomes of pre-recorded music listening in clinical or medical populations. Studies involving music listening in relational settings, live music, multimodal interventions, or neuromotor rehabilitation were excluded. Results: Of 280 records initially identified, 63 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most studies employed conventional familiar music, frequently self-selected by participants. Fewer than half reported explicit musical parameters, and only five studies documented the involvement of a certified music therapist. Substantial heterogeneity was observed in music listening experiences, potentially confounding outcome interpretation. Conclusions: Although music listening interventions appear feasible and potentially beneficial across diverse clinical contexts, major methodological and conceptual limitations persist. Greater involvement of music therapy professionals, standardized reporting of musical parameters, clearer theoretical rationales linking musical structure to clinical outcomes, and improved control group design are required to enhance reproducibility, interpretability, and clinical translation.