A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis has quantified the effectiveness of music in reducing perioperative anxiety for patients undergoing surgery or caesarean delivery, finding it comparable to benzodiazepines.
The study determined a 'number needed to treat' (NNT) of 4 for music intervention. This means four patients need to listen to music perioperatively for one to experience a benefit, resulting in an average anxiety reduction of 12 mm on the Visual Analog Scale for Anxiety or 5.7 points on the State-Trait Anxiety Index.
Researchers established the NNT for music to support clinicians in evaluating its real-world value. They found that recorded music interventions in surgical settings led to significant, moderate-to-large anxiety reductions.
While benzodiazepines are a common pharmacological treatment for surgical anxiety, they carry potential side-effects such as respiratory depression, drowsiness, and dependency, particularly in older populations. The NNT for benzodiazepines in treating panic disorder is reported as 4, but a specific NNT for preoperative anxiety is not established, limiting direct comparison.
However, the study highlights that music intervention offers similar effectiveness to benzodiazepines without the associated side-effects or cost, potentially encouraging its wider implementation in clinical practice.