Comparing the Effectiveness of Exercise and Music Therapy on Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Breast Cancer

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, and in addition to clinical treatments, these patients must improve their mental health. The current study aimed to compare the effectiveness of exercise therapy and music therapy on anxiety and depression in patients with breast cancer.

Methods: The current study was a quasi-experimental research with a pre-test and post-test design. In 2020, 241 patients with breast cancer were referred to the Basra Oncology Center, Basra, Iraq. Among them, 72 people were randomly divided into two intervention groups and a control group based on simple random sampling (24 people in each group). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was administered to all three groups in pre-test and post-test. The intervention groups participated in exercise and music therapy, whereas the control group did not. Data were analyzed by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with SPSS software.

Results: Exercise and music-based therapies reduced anxiety (F = 14.076, P < 0.001) and depression (F = 26.641, P < 0.001) in patients with breast cancer. In addition, the variables of anxiety (P = 0.214) and depression (P = 0.148) did not significantly differ between the two approaches.

Conclusion: Exercise and music-based therapies can significantly alleviate anxiety and depression of patients with breast cancer, enhancing their quality of life. In the treatment and care departments, it is suggested that these treatments be viewed as non-invasive interventions.