Music Therapy Research Articles

An Intergenerational Telehealth Music Therapy Group Intervention to Improve Grandparents' Meaning in life.

The lockdown policies in Israel during the COVID-19 pandemic hampered familial grandparents-grandchildren relations. There is initial evidence that older adults' meaning in life and will-to-live decreased. Grandparents could no longer meet their grandchildren in person. In response, we utilized an intergenerational telehealth music therapy group intervention during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Forty-four pairs of grandparents and grandchildren enrolled in a quasi-experimental study with an intervention and waitlist control group. Twenty-one pairs of grandparents-grandchildren participated in a weekly virtual group music therapy intervention (via Zoom) for 8 weeks (experimental group) and the remainder were waitlisted and received no intervention (control group). Participants in both groups completed the same questionnaires in parallel before and after the intervention. The grandparents' meaning in life, will-to-live and behavioral grandparenthood increased compared to no change observed in the control group. Further research with randomized-controlled treatment is recommended.

Can Music Enhance Working Memory and Speech in Noise Perception in Cochlear Implant Users? Design Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Behavioral and Electrophysiological Study.

A cochlear implant (CI) enables deaf people to understand speech but due to technical restrictions, users face great limitations in noisy conditions. Music training has been shown to augment shared auditory and cognitive neural networks for processing speech and music and to improve auditory-motor coupling, which benefits speech perception in noisy listening conditions. These are promising prerequisites for studying multi-modal neurologic music training (NMT) for speech-in-noise (SIN) perception in adult cochlear implant (CI) users. Furthermore, a better understanding of the neurophysiological correlates when performing working memory (WM) and SIN tasks after multi-modal music training with CI users may provide clinicians with a better understanding of optimal rehabilitation. Within 3 months, 81 post-lingual deafened adult CI recipients will undergo electrophysiological recordings and a four-week neurologic music therapy multi-modal training randomly assigned to one of three training focusses (pitch, rhythm, and timbre). Pre- and post-tests will analyze behavioral outcomes and apply a novel electrophysiological measurement approach that includes neural tracking to speech and alpha oscillation modulations to the sentence-final-word-identification-and-recall test (SWIR-EEG). Expected outcome: Short-term multi-modal music training will enhance WM and SIN performance in post-lingual deafened adult CI recipients and will be reflected in greater neural tracking and alpha oscillation modulations in prefrontal areas. Prospectively, outcomes could contribute to understanding the relationship between cognitive functioning and SIN besides the technical deficits of the CI. Targeted clinical application of music training for post-lingual deafened adult CI carriers to significantly improve SIN and positively impact the quality of life can be realized.

The Alliance for Recovery Research in Music Therapy

The Alliance for Recovery Research in Music Therapy

Music Therapy with Patients with Personality Disorder

Music Therapy with Patients with Personality Disorder

Effect of music therapy on pain and anxiety during third molar surgery

Music therapy has been used with promising results to reduce pain and anxiety in surgical specialties. It is suggested to reduce anxiety and pain perception during dental surgeries and thereby improving clinical outcomes. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine whether listening to music during trans-alveolar mandibular third molar extraction reduces pain perception and anxiety. Methods: One hundred and forty-six adult participants were randomized into music and non-music groups, with each group comprising seventy-three participants. Each participant had trans-alveolar third molar extraction with or without music intervention depending on the group randomly assigned. Pain scores of participants were measured at one minute after consent, during and after administration of local anaesthetic, during osteotomy, after tooth delivery, and one minute after flap closure. Postoperative pain scores were recorded at one-hour, 3-hour, 6-hour, 24-hour and 48-hour after the last stitch. Pre- and post-operative anxiety scores were also recorded. Descriptive statistics was used to describe sociodemographic data. Student t-test was used to compare the mean of quantitative variables between the groups while chi-square test was used to compare proportions and to investigate association between categorical variables. The statistical significance was defined at p<0.05. Results: The study showed similar sociodemographic characteristics, baseline clinical features and duration of surgery between groups. Pain score peaked during local anaesthetic administration (p = 0.254) and at 3 hours after surgery (p = 0.170) but no statistically significant difference was observed in the mean pain score. The mean anxiety scores also revealed no statistically significant differences. Conclusion: Music was found to add no significant anxiolytic and adjunctive analgesic benefit to participants who underwent third molar surgeries in this study.

Iranian Nurses’ Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Complementary Therapies for Pain Management

IntroductionComplementary therapies (CTs) are being increasingly used by people with health issues and recommended by their health care providers. Although there are numerous studies available that address nurses' knowledge and attitudes regarding pain management, there are few that include the use of CTs by nurses in Iran. Therefore, this study was conducted in selected areas of Iran to assess nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and current practice regarding the use of CTs. MethodsA cross–sectional study was conducted on a random sample of 850 nurses from various regions of Iran between 2020 and 2022. A questionnaire was used that consisted of seven items addressing demographic characteristics, 15 items to assess knowledge, 25 items to address attitude and 22 items to address the practice of CTs in the area of pain relief. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. ResultsThe participants’ mean age was 33.26±7.24 years. Most nurses (89.9%) had not received formal education on CTs. However, 78.6% of nurses reported personal use of CTs, and 62.3% reported using or recommending it to their patients at least once. Regarding the knowledge of CTs, nurses scored 5.81 on a 15 points scale indicating a considerable gap in their knowledge of CTs. Regarding attitudes toward the specific therapies, nurses believed that massage is highly (46.4%) or moderately (31.6%) effective in pain relief. Regarding effectiveness, nurses ranked the following as the top four CTs: music therapy, humor, hydrotherapy, and use of cold / heat. ConclusionThe nurses in this study scored low on knowledge of CTs, meaning that they knew little about CTs. However, they showed a favorable attitude toward CTs and a majority of them had a history of personal use, and recommending some types of CTs to their patients for pain relief. Therefore, it is crucial for nurse managers to provide opportunities to acquire knowledge of CTs. Moreover, nurse educators should advocate for updating nursing curricula to include CTs as an essential component of pain management education.

Andragogy for Music Therapy Education and Training

Andragogy for Music Therapy Education and Training

Commentary on “‘Music therapy is the very definition of white privilege’: Music therapists’ perspectives on race and class in UK music therapy” (Mains et al.)

commentary on “‘Music therapy is the very definition of white privilege’: Music therapists’ perspectives on race and class in UK music therapy” (Mains et al.)

Portraits of everyday practice in music therapy

Portraits of everyday practice in music therapy

Emerging Treatments and Therapies for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Narrative Review.

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has increased over the last decade. In this regard, many emerging therapies have been described as ASD therapies. Although ASD does not have a cure, there are several management options available that can help reduce symptom severity. ASD is highly variable and, therefore, standard treatment protocols and studies are challenging to perform. Many of these therapies also address comorbidities for which patients with ASD have an increased risk. These concurrent diagnoses can include psychiatric and neurological disorders, including attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorders, and epilepsy, as well as gastrointestinal symptoms such as chronic constipation and diarrhea. Both the extensive list of ASD-associated disorders and adverse effects from commonly prescribed medications for patients with ASD can impact presenting symptomatology. It is important to keep these potential interactions in mind when considering additional drug treatments or complementary therapies. This review addresses current literature involving novel pharmacological treatments such as oxytocin, bumetanide, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, and memantine. It also discusses additional therapies such as diet intervention, acupuncture, music therapy, melatonin, and the use of technology to aid education. Notably, several of these therapies require more long-term research to determine efficacy in specific ASD groups within this patient population.

THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES FOR THE TREATMENT OF PERINATAL DEPRESSION: An integrative review

Perinatal depression can occur during pregnancy and/or in the following year after childbirth, with adverse repercussions for maternal and child health if left untreated. The aim of this study is to characterize the therapeutic strategies found in the literature for the treatment of perinatal depression in women. An integrative literature review was conducted in the Virtual Health Library and Pubmed databases in December 2023, using the following controlled descriptors: depression; depression, postpartum; pregnancy; pregnant women and treatment. The results came to a final sample of 15 articles and revealed that all of them were conducted in high-income countries. The majority of the studies belonged to the quantitative approach (86.67%) and presented five main therapeutic strategies: bright light therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, group music therapy and zuranolone. The review indicated bright light therapy as a promising intervention for perinatal depression, although it requires further studies. It demonstrated the positive impact of cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy in different formats for this period. In postpartum depression, the study showed a favorable outcome for group musical interventions and the use of zuranolone medication for symptom management. It is suggested that future research be carried out using qualitative and qualitative-quantitative approaches, including in countries with limited resources.

Effect of Music Therapy on Negative Psychology, Sleep, and Quality of Life in Elderly Patients Recovering from Cerebral Infarction with Depression and Anxiety: A Retrospective Analysis.

To observe the effects of music therapy on negative psychology, sleep, and quality of life in elderly patients recovering from cerebral infarction accompanied by depression and anxiety. We performed a retrospective analysis of 160 patients with convalescent cerebral infarction diagnosed between December 2022 and December 2023 in the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. Cases from the control group (n = 76) were treated with conventional rehabilitation training. Meanwhile, the music therapy group (n = 84) cases were managed with standard and music therapy. Various measures, including polysomnography, the general quality of life questionnaire-74 (GQOL-74), the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and the self-rating depression scale (SDS) were collected at baseline (admission) and 4 weeks post-admission. After 4 weeks, the music therapy group exhibited higher GQOL-74 scores, lower SAS scores, and lower SDS scores (P < 0.001). Furthermore, compared with the control group, the music therapy group had shorter sleep latency, longer sleep duration, higher sleep efficiency, lower wake time, fewer wake times, shorter S1 stage, longer S3 + S4 stage, and longer REM period (P < 0.001). Music therapy appears to be effective in improving negative psychology, sleep quality, and quality of life in elderly patients with comorbid depression and anxiety during recovery from cerebral infarction.

Application Value of Music Therapy in Improving the Emotional State and Quality of Life of Hospitalized Patients with Breast Cancer: Retrospective Study.

This study aimed to apply music therapy as a clinical treatment for patients with breast cancer (BC) experiencing mild or moderate depression during hospitalization and observe any improvements in their depression and quality of life. A total of 102 patients who had mild-to-moderate depression, were diagnosed with BC, and were admitted to our hospital from October 2022 to October 2023 were selected as the subjects of a retrospective analysis. According to their participation in short-term music therapy, they were divided into a control group (routine nursing treatment n = 45) and an observation group (routine nursing treatment + music therapy n = 57). Self-rating depression (SDS) scale and functional assessment of cancer therapy-breast (FACT-B) scale Chinese version 4.0 scores and patient satisfaction after treatment were compared between the two groups. After treatment, the SDS scale scores and FACT-B scores of the observation group were significantly better than those of the control group (P < 0.001). The patient satisfaction in the observation group was higher than in the control group (P < 0.05). Music therapy is a highly safe method to improve the depression and quality of life of patients with BC. It also provides a simple and convenient nondrug clinical treatment with broad application prospects.

Effectiveness of Music Therapy as an Intervention in Patients with Hypertension: A Literature Review

Hypertension is a medical condition often associated with high blood pressure, and if not properly managed can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Although pharmacological treatment has become the standard in managing hypertension, non-pharmacological therapies such as music therapy can be used as a non-pharmacological approach that has the potential to strengthen the management of this disease. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of music therapy as an intervention in hypertensive patients. The conceptual framework used is by collecting some literature that discusses the same topic by looking at research abstracts. There are 3 database sources used to search for literature, namely Proquest, Science Direct, clinicallkey and Wiley journals. Music therapy is one of the alternative therapies or non-pharmacological therapies that can be used as hypertension therapy. This music therapy can be a guideline and recommendation for nurses to apply to patients with hypertension, besides that, people with hypertension can use music therapy independently.

Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Combined with Music Therapy on Brain Function and Mental Health of Patients with Aneurismal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Retrospective Study.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), which is widely used in clinical practice, is aimed at improving nerve function impairment after brain injury. Meanwhile, the effects of music therapy on brain function are unclear. This retrospective study was conducted to explore the application effect of HBOT combined with music therapy on patients suffering from aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). For this retrospective study, 130 patients with aSAH after HBOT were selected from our hospital from June 2021 to June 2022. The patients were divided into the observation (n = 70) and control (n = 60) groups based on whether they received music therapy. Comparisons were made on general demographic data, blood flow rate in median cerebral artery (MCA), cerebral vasospasm (CVS), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), activities of daily living (ADL) score, Self-Rating Depressive Scale (SDS), and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) of patients. Baseline data between the two groups showed no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). After management, patients in the observation group presented significantly lower SAS and SDS scores (P < 0.05), lower blood flow rate in MCA, CVS and NIHSS scores (P < 0.05), and higher ADL scores than the control group (P < 0.05). The combination of HBOT and music therapy can considerably improve cerebral neurological deficits, slow down cerebral arterial blood flow, promote the recovery of postoperative cerebral function in aSAH patients, and improve anxiety and depression and the patients' ADL.

Evaluating the Therapeutic Effectiveness of Music Therapy in Post-Laparoscopic Ovarian Cystectomy Patients: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

The therapeutic effects of music therapy on improving negative emotions and reducing pain are increasingly acknowledged. However, limited clinical research exists on its use in patients post-laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy (LOC). A total of 147 patients undergoing LOC at our hospital were evaluated. Patients were divided based on the implementation time of music therapy: group A (72 patients, October 2020 to October 2021) received standard clinical treatment, while group B (75 patients, November 2021 to November 2022) received music therapy alongside routine care. The baseline data of patients and the scores of the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire were collected. Pain and psychological stress levels were compared on the first postoperative day and at discharge to assess the clinical value of each treatment approach. Group B exhibited significantly lower PSS, SF-MPQ, and BAI scores (P < 0.001 for all) and higher overall satisfaction at discharge (P < 0.001). These findings suggest that music therapy can reduce psychological stress, decrease pain levels, and improve mood in patients undergoing LOC. This study demonstrates that music therapy positively rehabilitates patients after LOC, offering new insights for future clinical treatment strategies.

Application of Music Therapy in Improving the Sleep Quality and Mental Health of Nurses with Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders Caused by Work Shifts.

To analyze the impact of using music therapy to improve the sleep quality and mental health of nurses who suffer from circadian rhythm sleep disorders. Our retrospective analysis included 360 nurses with circadian rhythm sleep disorders from 20 different departments who worked in Wuhan Third Hospital for more than 1 year from May 2022 to May 2023. A total of 180 nurses with circadian rhythm sleep disorders were classified as the control group (received melatonin receptor agonist Melatonin Receptor Type 2 [MT2]). The other 180 cases were classified into the observation group (received melatonin receptor agonist MT2 + music therapy). After six courses of treatment, the clinical efficacy, Self-Assessment Anxiety Scale (SAS) score, Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Scale (PSQI) score of the two groups of nurses were compared. Before treatment, no statistically significant differences in baseline treatment and SAS, SDS, and PSQI scores were found between the two groups. After treatment, the total effective rate of treatment in the observation group was 85.56%, which was significantly higher than the 50.56% in the control group (P < 0.001). After treatment, the SAS, SDS and PSQI scores of the observation group were lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The SAS, SDS and PSQI scores of both groups were lower after treatment than they were before treatment (P < 0.05). Implementing music therapy for nurses with circadian rhythm sleep disorders caused by shifts can improve sleep quality and reduce negative emotions. It is a clinical strategy with clinical application value and a certain promotion value.

Observations on the Clinical Effects of Music Therapy on Premature Infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units.

This study aimed to explore the clinical effects of music therapy (MT) on premature infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). A total of 78 premature infants in NICUs admitted from January 2021 to January 2022 in Wuhan Children's Hospital, Tongji Medical College, and Huazhong University of Science and Technology were selected as the reference group and received routine management. Wuhan Children's Hospital implemented MT from February 2022 to February 2023, and 74 premature infants in NICUs admitted during the same period were selected as the observation group. The corresponding management mode was implemented on the second day of NICU admission for premature infants. Amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG) and neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) were adopted to evaluate the brain function, specifically the neurological function of neonates, after the end of management. The degree of parent-child attachment was measured using the pictorial representation of attachment measure (PRAM) in a nonverbal (visual) manner. The temperature, pulse, respiratory rate (RR), the number and duration of crying, and incidence of complications were all compared between the two groups. SPSS showed that no difference existed in the aEEG and NBNA scores between the two groups (P > 0.05). The distance of PRAM self-baby-distance was smaller in the observation group compared with the reference group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in temperature between the two groups (P > 0.05). The observation group had significantly lower pulse and RR values than the reference group (P < 0.05). Finally, no significant difference existed in the incidence of complications between the two groups (P > 0.05). MT has a certain application value for premature infants in NICUs and can thus be applied to newborns in other NICUs. However, further studies are required to completely verify the research results.

Effects of Music Therapy in the Context of Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning and Accomplishment (PERMA) on Negative Emotions in Patients with Mild-to-Moderate Depression.

This study explores the effects of music therapy under the framework of positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment (PERMA) on the negative emotions and quality of life (QOL) in patients with digestive diseases and mild-to-moderate depression in a general hospital. From January 2020 to December 2021, 192 digestive diseases patients with mild-to-moderate depression who met the inclusion criteria were retrospectively analyzed and divided into the control group (routine nursing, n = 90) and the observation group (music therapy under PERMA, n = 102). Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), General Well-being Scale, and a 36-item short-form health survey were used to evaluate the negative emotions and QOL of patients. SPSS 25.0 was used for statistical analysis. At baseline, the general data and the type of digestive disease of the two groups were similar, and no significant difference was noted in the HAMA and HAMD-17 scores (P > 0.05). After 2 weeks of treatment, the HAMA and HAMD-17 scores of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05). In terms of subjective well-being and QOL, the scores of the four dimensions of "satisfaction and interest in life," "melancholy and cheerful mood," "control of emotional behavior" and "relaxation and tension" in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). In the dimension of "body pain" of QOL, the score of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Among patients in a general hospital with digestive diseases and mild-to-moderate depression, music therapy under the framework of PERMA shows significant positive effects in reducing anxiety and depression symptoms and improving subjective well-being and specific QOL dimensions.

Novel Approach for Investigating the Effect of Music Therapy on Perioperative Anxiety and Postoperative Satisfaction in Elderly Patients Undergoing Lower-Limb Fracture Surgery Under Intravertebral Anesthesia: A Prospective Clinical Study.

This study examines the effect of music therapy on perioperative anxiety and postoperative satisfaction in elderly patients undergoing lower-limb fracture surgery with intravertebral anesthesia to address the increasing incidence of such fractures and related surgical stress. Conducted from February 2022 to June 2023, this prospective study involved 120 elderly patients at the People's Liberation Army General Hospital of Southern Theatre Command. They were divided into the Music group (n = 60, receiving relaxing music during surgery) and the Control group (n = 60, no music). We measured preoperative and postoperative anxiety by using the Visual Analog Scale for Anxiety (VAS-A) along with intraoperative hemodynamic parameters and patient satisfaction postsurgery. Both groups maintained stable heart rates, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and mean arterial pressure. However, the Music group displayed significantly lower systolic blood pressure at the beginning of the operation (T5), 5 minutes after the operation (T6) and at the end of the operation (T9) than the Control group. After the surgery, the Music group had notably lower VAS-A scores and saliva cortisol levels, indicating reduced anxiety. Additionally, this group reported higher satisfaction levels. Music therapy notably reduced postoperative anxiety and improves patient satisfaction in elderly patients undergoing lower-limb fracture surgery with intravertebral anesthesia. These findings endorse music therapy as a beneficial, non-invasive, and cost-effective method to ameliorate perioperative stress and a complementary approach to traditional medical care in surgical settings.