Clinical trial · Interventional
Multisensory Interventions Reduce MRI Anxiety in Cancer Patients
Multisensory Therapy Alleviating MRI-Related Anxiety in Cancer Patients Via Brain-Autonomic Network Modulation: A Randomized Clinical Trial
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
MRI-related anxiety is prevalent among cancer patients and frequently undermines imaging quality by inducing motion artifacts or causing premature examination termination. Safe, non-pharmacological supportive interventions have the potential to alleviate procedural anxiety, yet the underlying neurobiological mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the anxiolytic effect of a combined multisensory intervention integrating music therapy and aromatherapy during MRI procedures, and to further explore its potential neurophysiological mechanisms via autonomic nervous system monitoring and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). This study adopted a prospective, single-center, parallel-group randomized controlled trial design and was conducted at Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, between April 2025 and April 2026. Eligible participants were randomly allocated to four groups in equal proportions to receive routine care, music therapy alone, aromatherapy alone, or combined music and aromatherapy interventions. All study interventions were delivered consistently throughout the pre-MRI waiting period and the formal MRI scanning procedure, while participants in the control group received only standard clinical care without additional supportive intervention.
Conditions
Conditions (2)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malignant Tumor (Cancer) | Malignant Neoplasm | ALIAS | 0.85 |
| MRI Examination-induced Anxiety | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
Interventions
Interventions (2)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guzheng music therapy | Behavioral | — | UNRESOLVED |
| Lavender aromatherapy | Behavioral | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (4)
- type
- NO_INTERVENTION
- label
- Control Group (Routine imaging care only)
- description
- Patients receive standard routine imaging care without any additional music or aromatherapy interventions. Standard vital sign monitoring is conducted for 20 minutes before MRI and maintained throughout the whole scan procedure.
- type
- EXPERIMENTAL
- label
- MT Group (Guzheng music intervention)
- description
- On the basis of routine imaging care, patients receive 20 minutes of autonomic monitoring before MRI. After 10 minutes of baseline monitoring, participants listen to the guzheng piece Fishing Boat Singing at Dusk via MRI-compatible headphones; autonomic monitoring continues until scan completion.
- interventionNames
- Behavioral: Guzheng music therapy
- type
- EXPERIMENTAL
- label
- AT Group (Lavender aromatherapy intervention)
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- All
- Minimum age
- 18 Years
- Maximum age
- 60 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 18 to 60 years * Pathologically confirmed malignant tumor * Require clinically indicated MRI examination * Baseline HADS anxiety subscale score ≥ 8 * Able to understand study procedures and provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Severe cognitive impairment or preexisting neurological disorders that compromise neuroimaging data quality * Confirmed olfactory or auditory dysfunction * Known hypersensitivity to aromatic essential oils * MRI contraindications (implanted metallic devices, severe claustrophobia) or unstable cardiovascular conditions * Concurrent enrollment in other interventional clinical trials
References
Publications (17)
- BACKGROUNDWen X, Shi J, Tan W, Jiang H, Wang D, Su J, Yang G, Zhang B. Effects of aromatherapy and music therapy on patients' anxiety during MRI examinations: a randomized controlled trial. Eur Radiol. 2023 Apr;33(4):2510-2518. doi: 10.1007/s00330-022-09230-3. Epub 2022 Nov 6. PMID 36335480
- BACKGROUNDYoo O, Park SA. Anxiety-Reducing Effects of Lavender Essential Oil Inhalation: A Systematic Review. Healthcare (Basel). 2023 Nov 17;11(22):2978. doi: 10.3390/healthcare11222978. PMID 37998470
- BACKGROUNDTan L, Liao FF, Long LZ, Ma XC, Peng YX, Lu JM, Qu H, Fu CG. Essential oils for treating anxiety: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials and network meta-analysis. Front Public Health. 2023 Jun 1;11:1144404. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1144404. eCollection 2023. PMID 37325306
- BACKGROUNDSun C, Fei C, Lin R, Qiu X, Wang W, Jiang X, Sun F, Wang Y, Tang L. The Efficacy of Aromatherapy on Pain and Anxiety During Needle-Related Procedures in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Pain Res. 2025 Aug 13;18:4053-4072. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S533076. eCollection 2025. PMID 40827258
- BACKGROUNDde Witte M, Aalbers S, Vink A, Friederichs S, Knapen A, Pelgrim T, Lampit A, Baker FA, van Hooren S. Music therapy for the treatment of anxiety: a systematic review with multilevel meta-analyses. EClinicalMedicine. 2025 Jun 9;84:103293. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103293. eCollection 2025 Jun. PMID 40547443
- BACKGROUNDYang HF, Chang WW, Chou YH, Huang JY, Liao YS, Liao TE, Tseng HC, Chang ST, Chen HL, Ke YF, Tsai PF, Chan HM, Chang BJ, Hwang YT, Tsai HY, Lee YC. Impact of background music listening on anxiety in cancer patients undergoing initial radiation therapy: a randomized clinical trial. Radiat Oncol. 2024 Jun 11;19(1):73. doi: 10.1186/s13014-024-02460-3. PMID 38862982
- BACKGROUNDXiao X, Chen W, Zhang X. The effect and mechanisms of music therapy on the autonomic nervous system and brain networks of patients of minimal conscious states: a randomized controlled trial. Front Neurosci. 2023 May 12;17:1182181. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1182181. eCollection 2023.