Effectiveness of group music therapy in reducing exam anxiety in high school senior students

P-444 - The effectiveness of group music therapy to improve depression and cognition status in elderly persons with dementia

Background Workers in the financial industry generally face high pressure and high competition in the working environment, and have a high risk of mental health, including a high incidence of schizophrenia. Patients are usually accompanied by cognitive disorders, emotional disorders and impaired social functions, which seriously affect their quality of life and work ability. At present, the main use of drug intervention, but the efficacy is limited and may produce drug resistance and adverse reactions. Music therapy, which can regulate emotions, relieve stress and improve cognitive function, has gradually become a potential adjuvant therapy. However, there is a lack of systematic research on the effect of music therapy on financial practitioners with schizophrenia. The study evaluated the intervention effect of music therapy on the symptoms of financial practitioners, explored its application prospects and mechanisms, and provided references for personalized treatment programs. Methods A randomized controlled trial design was used to enroll 120 financial practitioners diagnosed with schizophrenia. All participants were randomly divided 1:1 into music therapy (n=60) and control (n=60) groups. The music therapy group received a 60-minute music therapy intervention twice a week for 12 weeks, in addition to their usual medication. Music therapy includes guided music listening, rhythmic interaction, and emotional expression activities that are personalized to match subjects’ musical preferences. The control group received only conventional drug treatment and no additional non-drug intervention. Symptom assessment measures included the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), which were measured at baseline, at week 6, and at the end of the intervention. In addition, acceptance and adherence to the intervention were assessed using satisfaction surveys. Results Baseline assessment showed no statistically significant differences in gender composition, mean age, duration of disease, or symptom score between the two groups (P>0.05). After the intervention, the total score of PANSS in the music therapy group was 62.3±12.4, while that in the control group was 73.5±11.2, which was significantly lower than that in the music therapy group (P<0.05). Further sub analysis showed that the negative symptom score of the music therapy group was 23.6±5.1, which was significantly lower than that of the control group (27.8±6.4, P<0.05). In terms of depressive symptoms, BDI scores in the music therapy group decreased from 28.5±6.8 to 18.4±5.2 at baseline (P<0.05), and BDI scores in the control group decreased from 28.7±7.0 to 23.4±6.7 (P<0.05). Discussion Our findings suggest that music stress reduction therapy significantly improves the clinical symptoms of financial practitioners with schizophrenia. By guiding emotional expression, relieving stress and promoting social interaction, music therapy has a positive effect on patients’ emotional regulation and recovery of social function. This non-invasive and personalized intervention is easy to accept and provides feasibility for the adjuvant treatment of schizophrenia. Future studies should further validate its long-term effects and explore its underlying biological mechanisms to provide more support for the integrated management of schizophrenia. Funding No. KJQN202304406; No. Z233173; No. K24ZG3260163.

BackgroundCancer patients undergoing chemotherapy may experience several mental health challenges, including increased levels of anxiety and affected well-being. Music therapy and other music-based interventions have previously been applied to improve patient mental health during chemotherapy, but multi-site RCTs that report live group music therapy interventions are scarce.MethodsThis is a multi-site randomized clinical trial (RCT) with two arms: a single live group music therapy session + standard care and standard care alone. Primary outcome measure was the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and secondary outcome measures were the Well-being Numerical Rating Scales (WB-NRSs). Between-group differences in STAI and WB-NRSs scores were analyzed using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Intra-individual pre-post changes were assessed with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. This study follows the CONSORT guidelines for reporting RCTs.ResultsA total of 110 patients were included in this study. Results showed a statistically significant reduction of state anxiety from pre- to post-intervention for the music therapy group (p<0.001), but not for the control group. Between-group analysis showed significantly lower post-intervention STAI scores in the music therapy group as compared to the control group (p<0.001). With respect to well-being, only the music therapy group had statistically significant increases in all dimensions of well-being within-group from pre-to post timepoints, and between-group analysis showed statistically significant post-intervention differences in psychological (p = 0.005) and general well-being (p = 0.030) favoring the music therapy group. Effects of hospital sites on the outcomes were not significant.DiscussionThe results suggest that group music therapy during chemotherapy is a safe and effective strategy to improve mental health and well-being in cancer patients. To our knowledge, this is the first multicenter RCT on group music therapy during chemotherapy in Colombia. Future studies should aim at integrating caregivers of chemotherapy patients and seek expansion to an international multi-site RCT.

Objectives: Several studies have suggested positive effects of music therapy in dementia, but research on age-related depression has been limited and of insufficient quality. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of interactive group music therapy versus recreational group singing on depressive symptoms in elderly nursing home residents.Method: Residents of two German nursing homes with sufficient length of stay who were not bedridden were invited to participate in a pragmatic trial. A total of 117 participants, grouped into four clusters (based on their wards), were randomised to interactive group music therapy (n = 62; 20 units of 40 minutes, 2×/week) or recreational group singing (n = 55; 10 units of 90 minutes, 1×/week). The level of depressive symptoms was assessed using the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale at baseline (47% with at least mild depression) and follow-up in the 6th and 12th weeks. There was no blinding of assessors.Results: The level of depressive symptoms improved significantly more in those assigned to music therapy (n = 60) than in recreational singing (n = 53), both in 6th week (mean difference 3.0 scores, 95% CI 1.21 to 4.79, p = 0.001) and 12th week (mean difference 4.50 scores, 95% CI 2.51 to 6.50, p < 0.001).Conclusion: The results suggest that music therapy decreases depressive symptoms in elderly people in nursing homes more effectively than recreational singing.

Music therapy may have beneficial effects on improving communication and expressive skills in patients with Huntington's disease (HD). Most studies are, however, small observational studies and methodologically limited. Therefore we conducted a multi-center randomized controlled trial. To determine the efficacy of music therapy in comparison with recreational therapy in improving quality of life of patients with advanced Huntington's disease by means of improving communication. Sixty-three HD-patients with a Total Functional Capacity (TFC) score of ≤7, admitted to four long-term care facilities in The Netherlands, were randomized to receive either group music therapy or group recreational therapy in 16 weekly sessions. They were assessed at baseline, after 8, 16 and 28 weeks using the Behaviour Observation Scale for Huntington (BOSH) and the Problem Behaviour Assessment-short version (PBA-s). A linear mixed model with repeated measures was used to compare the scores between the two groups. Group music therapy offered once weekly for 16 weeks to patients with Huntington's disease had no additional beneficial effect on communication or behavior compared to group recreational therapy. This was the first study to assess the effect of group music therapy on HD patients in the advanced stages of the disease. The beneficial effects of music therapy, recorded in many, mainly qualitative case reports and studies, could not be confirmed with the design (i.e. group therapy vs individual therapy) and outcome measures that have been used in the present study. A comprehensive process-evaluation alongside the present effect evaluation is therefore performed.

Effect of music therapy on the anxiety levels and pregnancy rate of women undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer: A randomized controlled trial

There is substantive literature reporting the importance and benefits of music and music therapy programs for older adults, and more specifically for those with dementia. However, few studies have focused on how these programs may contribute to quality of life. Objectives for this exploratory study were: (a) to evaluate the potential effect of group music therapy program participation on the quality of life of older people with mild, moderate, and severe dementia living in a nursing home; (b) to identify and analyze changes in affect and participation that take place during music therapy sessions; and (c) to suggest recommendations and strategies for the design of future music therapy studies with people in various stages of dementias. Sixteen participants (15 women; 1 man), with varying level of dementia participated in 12 weekly music therapy sessions. Based on Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) scores, phases of cognitive function were as follows: mild (n = 9; GDS 3-4), moderate (n = 5; GDS 5), and severe (n = 2; GDS 6-7). Data were collected using the GENCAT scale on Quality of Life. Sessions 1, 6, and 12 were also video recorded for post-hoc analysis of facial affect and participation behaviors. There was no significant difference in quality of life scores from pre to posttest (z = -0.824; p =0.410). However, there was a significant improvement in median subscale scores for Emotional Well-being (z = -2.176, p = 0.030), and significant worsening in median subscale scores for Interpersonal Relations (z =-2.074; p = 0.038) from pre to posttest. With regard to affect and participation, a sustained high level of participation was observed throughout the intervention program. Expressions of emotion remained low. Authors discuss implications of study findings to inform and improve future research in the areas of music therapy, quality of life, and individuals with dementia.

Effect of the Group Music Therapy on Brain Wave, Behavior, and Cognitive Function among Patients with Chronic Schizophrenia

Over a period of 2 years we assessed the long-term effects of group music therapy carried out once weekly on the elderly (mean age: 83 years) suffering from moderate or severe dementia by observing changes in the cortisol level in saliva and in blood pressure and by an intelligence assessment. Systolic blood pressure determined 1 and 2 years after the start of therapy increased significantly in the nonmusic therapy group compared with that in music therapy group (p < .05). Systolic blood pressure increases with aging; the systolic blood pressure was significantly lower in participants who received music therapy. No significant differences in cortisol level in saliva or intelligence assessment score were observed, but the music therapy group maintained their physical and mental states during the 2-year period better than the nonmusic therapy group. This result indicates the lasting effect of once-a-week continuous music therapy. Even the elderly with moderate or severe dementia were able to participate in the group music therapy, and results suggest that enjoying singing and playing musical instruments in a concert was effective in preventing cardiac and cerebral diseases.

To explore the effects of music video therapy on pain among preschool children after cardiothoracic surgery. Patients in the music video therapy (MVT) group received a 30-min music video intervention, while patients in the music therapy (MT) group received a 30-min musical intervention. Both groups were given their respective therapy three times a day for three days. Patients in the control group did not receive MVT or MV. Measures, including pain scores, vital signs (heart rate, mean arterial pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation), and other postoperative indicators were recorded and analyzed. The MVT group showed a statistically significant decrease in heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and respiratory rate at the first day after surgery and pain scores at the first and second day after surgery compared to the MT group, but no significant difference was identified in oxygen saturation. The postoperative indicators including cumulative capacity of sufentanil use, the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and the length of hospital stay in the MVT group were significantly lower than those in the control group. The findings provide further evidence to support the practice of music video therapy as a non-pharmaceutical intervention to reduce postoperative pain, reduce the dosage of analgesics, shorten the length of ICU and hospital stay in preschool children after the cardiothoracic surgery.

This study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of group music therapy (MT) intervention on behaviours of older people with dementia. Reported here are qualitative data from five, semi-structured focus groups; two comprising a total of seven family members and three comprising a total of 23 staff members. A number of core themes emerged: temporality, effect and policy with a number of subthemes. The MT effect is tempered by the temporality of (i) the older person's dementia state, (ii) the session and (iii) the psychosomatic effect on the older person. Music therapy is perceived to (i) evoke memories and facilitate reminiscence, (ii) act as a diversion (has an instrumental value) and it is contentious to discount the (iii) dichotomy between music and therapist in terms of the overall effect. Finally, policymakers need to know that MT is (i) highly prized and more, not less, MT is recommended. Findings from this study illustrate that the timing of the MT session has consequences for the workflow in the residential aged care facility; MT has a psychosomatic effect and participants here evaluate this as temporal. Care providers and family members acknowledge the instrumental value of MT and its helping with cognition and exercise. They have mixed views about the effects of the music and the effect on the older person by the therapist but most definitely want policymakers to ensure more, not less, planned and better funded MT is part of ongoing care in the residential aged care context. Areas for future research and policy are also highlighted. These views on group MT in residential aged care can initiate critical reflection on current practices and systems. Research is needed exploring the timing and scheduling of MT sessions at different times in the day for older person with dementia exhibiting negative behaviours.

Effect of virtual reality and music therapy on anxiety and perioperative pain in surgical extraction of impacted third molars

Objective: Framed in the patients’ engagement perspective, the current study aims to determine the effects of group music therapy in addition to drug care in comparison with drug care in addition to other non-expressive group activities in the treatment of psychiatric outpatients.Method: Participants (n = 27) with ICD-10 diagnoses of F20 (schizophrenia), F25 (schizoaffective disorders), F31 (bipolar affective disorder), F32 (depressive episode), and F60 (specific personality disorders) were randomized to receive group music therapy plus standard care (48 weekly sessions of 2 h) or standard care only. The clinical measures included dosages of neuroleptics, benzodiazepines, mood stabilizers, and antidepressants.Results: The participants who received group music therapy demonstrated greater improvement in drug dosage with respect to neuroleptics than those who did not receive group music therapy. Antidepressants had an increment for both groups that was significant only for the control group. Benzodiazepines and mood stabilizers did not show any significant change in either group.Conclusion: Group music therapy combined with standard drug care was effective for controlling neuroleptic drug dosages in adult psychiatric outpatients who received group music therapy. We discussed the likely applications of group music therapy in psychiatry and the possible contribution of music therapy in improving the psychopathological condition of adult outpatients. In addition, the implications for the patient-centered perspective were also discussed.

The study investigated the effects of group music therapy on aggressive and delinquent behaviors of children who were exposed to on-going child maltreatment and poverty. The study employed a two-arm parallel group design in which a music therapy is compared to a waiting group to determine behavioral changes over time. The results were mixed with no statistical significant difference between waiting and music therapy groups. The implication of these findings is discussed further. .

Music Therapy for Motor and Nonmotor Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled, Single-Blinded Study.