In the current study, the authors determined the effects of music therapy compared with standard care on mood during inpatient stays for high-dose therapy with autologous stem cell transplantation (HDT/ASCT). Patients with haematologic malignancy admitted for HDT/ASCT at two sites (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Ireland Cancer Center in Cleveland, Ohio) were randomised to receive music therapy given by trained music therapists or standard care. Outcome was assessed at baseline and every 3 days after randomisation using the Profile of Mood States. Of 69 patients registered in the study, follow-up data were available for 62 (90%). During their inpatient stay, patients in the music therapy group scored 28% lower on the combined anxiety/depression scale (P = 0.065) and 37% lower (P = 0.01) on the total mood disturbance score compared with controls.