Use of Music as an Adjuvant Therapy for Mental Illnesses: a Review

Keller Soares Ávila,Lara Santos Rocha,Alexandre De Rezende Pinto

doi:10.53843/bms.v5i8.115

Keller Soares Ávila, Lara Santos Rocha + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.53843/bms.v5i8.115

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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The use of music therapy (MT) as an adjuvant treatment for different types of diseases is promising and valid, given the emotional and cognitive benefits that exposure to music (actively or passively) offers. This literature review aims to elucidate how MT can be used to complement the usual treatment of mental disorders, its best propaedeutics, and possible harms. METHOD: The guiding question for this review was “In people diagnosed with mental disorders, does MT as an adjuvant therapy offer better clinical results compared to traditional treatment?”. The descriptors used on the search were “mental disorders”, “music therapy” and “psychiatric rehabilitation”, in MEDLINE, SciELO, and LILACS. The study was conducted in April 2021. Rigid inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. RESULTS: The 15 studies selected for this review come from 9 countries. Most are controlled clinical trials from the United States. They present several benefits of using MT in mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and schizophrenia, improving emotional control, cognitive ability, interpersonal relationships, and quality of life. DISCUSSION: MT shows strong positive results in the treatment of mental disorders in people of different ages, offers emotional relief, improved cognitive functions and interpersonal relationships, also reducing stress and depressive symptoms. In addition, it is a feasible therapy, with different applications, but it does not replace pharmacological treatment and psychotherapy. Few articles showed harmful effects of MT, observed only when it was associated with psychoactive drugs, generating unwelcome responses. CONCLUSION: Evidence suggests that MT is an excellent adjuvant therapy for the treatment of mental disorders with different clinical spectrums. Experiments with a larger sample size are required to elucidate the most effective technique and treatment duration for each mental disorder, considering individuality and the undeniable importance of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy.

Highlights

The use of music therapy (MT) as an adjuvant treatment for different types of diseases is promising and valid, given the emotional and cognitive benefits that exposure to music offers
The results were positive and significant for psychiatric symptoms, especially the reduction of active symptoms and promotion of interpersonal relationships, with no improvement in the assessment of quality of life[22]. These results reveal the promising character of adjuvant MT in disorders that impair social interaction, showing that this therapy can be a mechanism to promote socializing and the exchange of experiences
This review analyses previous studies that elucidate the advantages of using MT as an adjunct therapy for the treatment of various mental disorders, which depend on the way it is applied in conjunction with pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy

Summary

Introduction

The use of music therapy (MT) as an adjuvant treatment for different types of diseases is promising and valid, given the emotional and cognitive benefits that exposure to music (actively or passively) offers. DISCUSSION: MT shows strong positive results in the treatment of mental disorders in people of different ages, offers emotional relief, improved cognitive functions and interpersonal relationships, reducing stress and depressive symptoms. It is a feasible therapy, with different applications, but it does not replace pharmacological treatment and psychotherapy. As simple as it is, such as listening to music, singing, or playing an instrument, is considered a form of therapy and can help patients achieve the best therapeutical effects when a health professional is guiding this experience[1] This form of therapy has generated positive results in several patients and their rehabilitation. Regarding the applicability of this therapy, recent studies have proven that MT improves motor and cognitive skills in patients with conditions of different degrees, such as those who suffered a stroke[2], victims of firearm damage, chronic neurological diseases[3], and, especially, mental and psychological disorders[4]

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