Music therapy as a potential treatment for overactive bladder – a contemporary review

Abstract

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a highly prevalent syndrome of urinary urgency, frequency, and nocturia disproportionately impacting individuals with anxiety and depression. Treatment for OAB involves behavioral therapy, lifestyle modifications, pharmacotherapy, and invasive procedures. Music Therapy (MT) is an evidence-based intervention with data supporting its efficacy in improving anxiety, depression, and pain scores. MT is not part of OAB treatment protocol but may serve as a non-invasive method of improving symptoms and patient satisfaction. This narrative review aimed to analyze the current data supporting MT in urology and the psychiatric conditions comorbid with OAB to determine if MT may be explored for OAB symptom relief. A nonsystematic review of literature published in 2010 and after was performed via PubMed. We found OAB is associated with depression and anxiety, with symptoms of OAB positively correlating with severity of anxiety and depression. MT is efficacious as an adjunct therapy for anxiety and depression and patient comfort during urologic procedures. We conclude MT is a potential avenue for research in adjunctive therapies for OAB considering its efficacy in alleviating symptoms of anxiety, depression, and pain, as well as improving patient satisfaction. Further research is needed to investigate the utility of MT specifically on OAB.