检索一下音乐治疗在精神科的研究现状和进展，尤其对于情绪障碍

目的：总结基于“手碟音律”的接受式音乐治疗对焦虑症患者的应用效果。方法：研究采用便利抽样法，选取2023年1月至2023年8月在宜昌市某三级甲等专科医院的98例住院焦虑症 ...

大量临床研究和基础实验表明，音乐疗法在改善睡眠质量、缓解焦虑抑郁情绪方面具有独特优势[5] [6]。其作用机制被认为与调节大脑神经递质、影响自主神经功能及重塑大脑活动 ...

研究结果表明，正念音乐治疗能够显著改善个案的心理状态，有效减轻抑郁症状和焦虑、压力情绪状态，且社交能力和对未来的希望感显著提升，为大学生心理健康干预提供了新的视角和 ...

音乐干预作为一种安全、非侵入性且患者依从性高的疗法，在神经康复领域展现出独特潜力，被公认为是治疗情绪障碍和其他获得性脑损伤患者的有效方法(Wijeratne et al., 2022)。

于静的临床研究表明，个性化的音乐治疗作为心理科辅助治疗，可以有效改善抑郁症患者的症状(于静，2012)。毛智群等人对慢性精神分裂症患者采用主动音乐治疗和被动音乐治疗 ...

精神病学研究表明，辅以音乐放松训练可显著提高精神病药物的效果，促进精神分裂症患者情绪障碍的恢复，实现患者的转归(郭轶，李雪晶，傅春恋，2011)。同时音乐往往唤起意境，人们 ...

有学者认为(石广念等，2021)，鼓圈音乐辅助治疗能有效缓解精神分裂症患者的阴性症状及情感症状，提高临床治疗效果，改善患者生活质量。同样，对于精神科患者来说，采用心理护理也 ...

《黄帝内经》五音疗法治疗轻中度焦虑抑郁症的疗效评价[J]. 中国中医药现代远程 ... 用药管理配合音乐疗法对中晚期帕金森患者心理状况、睡眠质量的影响[J]. 中国 ...

研究通过理论整合，将积极心理学与音乐治疗技术相结合，围绕积极情绪拓展与建构的核心机制，设计了包含教学目标确立、教学评价设计、教学内容建构及方法组织的干预框架，并以“ ...

目的：本研究采用量化与质化研究相结合的方式探索鼓圈技术对减轻大学生压力、改善负性情绪的实证性研究。方法：实验前使用大学生压力量表(SSCS)、正负性情绪量表(PANAS) ...

这些具体技术的共性都是在意识转换状态下，配合音乐想象对个体进行干预，进而获得一种良好的情绪体验或一定程度认知的改变(高天，2011)。本研究重点探讨以音乐想象技术为主的 ...

Postpartum depression (PPD) significantly impacts women’s mental health and social functioning, yet effective therapies remain limited. This study investigates the preventive effects of music therapy on PPD-like behaviors and the underlying neurobiological mechanisms in a mouse model subjected to ovarian hormone withdrawal (HW). Mice exposed to daily music sessions exhibited markedly reduced depression- and anxiety-like behaviors, as evidenced by enhanced performance in behavioral tests such as the open field test (OFT), forced swim test (FST), elevated plus maze test (EPM), sucrose preference test (SPT), novelty-suppressed feeding (NSF) test, and tail suspension test (TST). Furthermore, music therapy normalized oxidative stress indicators (NO, MDA, SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, T-AOC, ATP, and glutamate) in the serum, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. Additionally, music exposure reduced levels of proinflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-1β, iNOS, TNF-α, and TGF-β) and the activation of microglia and astrocytes in these brain regions. Notably, music therapy preserved neuronal integrity, promoted neurogenesis, and maintained synaptic plasticity, evidenced by the restoration of dendritic spines. Transcriptome sequencing identified differential gene expression in pathways related to synaptic plasticity, inflammation, and oxidative stress. These findings suggest that music therapy prevents PPD by modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and synaptic integrity, providing robust preclinical evidence for its potential as a natural preventive intervention for PPD. This study underscores the need for further clinical research to validate the therapeutic efficacy of music in preventing PPD in humans, highlighting its promise as a non-invasive and accessible treatment modality.

Background Despite numerous pharmacological treatments, individuals with schizophrenia continue to exhibit significant residual cognitive impairments, adversely affecting the progression of the illness and their overall quality of life. Preliminary evidence indicates that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and music therapy (MT) may offer potential benefits for enhancing cognitive function in schizophrenia. This study aims to examine the synergistic efficacy of tDCS and MT on cognitive impairments in individuals with schizophrenia and to elucidate the potential mechanisms involved in this process. Methods The study is designed as a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial. All patients with schizophrenia will be randomly assigned to one of five groups: active tDCS combined with MT group, sham tDCS combined with MT group, active tDCS group, MT group, and a control group. The anodal electrode of tDCS will be positioned over the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), while the cathodal electrode will be placed over the visual cortex. MT will incorporate both Western Mozart and traditional Chinese classical music. The protocol involves 30-minute sessions conducted once daily, 5 days per week, for 4 consecutive weeks. The primary outcome measure is change in cognitive function, secondary outcomes include changes in psychotic symptoms, social function, and quality of life. Assessments will be evaluated at baseline (T0), after 2 weeks (T1), and after 4 weeks (T2). Furthermore, we will employ functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to examine hemodynamic changes on the cerebral cortex, and explore the neural effects of this combined treatment approach. Discussion This study proposes an innovative non-pharmacological treatment protocol that combines tDCS targeting the mPFC with MT to improve cognitive impairments in schizophrenia. As a proof-of-concept study, it aims to provide empirical evidence for the effectiveness of this combined intervention. Moreover, this study seeks to elucidate the underlying neural mechanisms and offer a rigorous framework for future clinical trials, ultimately providing a novel therapeutic strategy for enhancing cognitive functions in patients with schizophrenia. Clinical trial registration https://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier, ChiCTR2400093161 Trial registration details The study is registered with https://www.chictr.org.cn/ under protocol registration number ChiCTR2400093161 (date of registration: 29. November. 2024). It was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University (Approval Code: XYEFYLL-2024-82, Approval Date: 6 November 2024). Recruitment began in December 2024.

BACKGROUND Music therapy has become a notable complementary approach for psychotherapy. Nevertheless, because of the interplay between music and culture, the relative efficacy of five-element music therapy and Western music therapy remains to be determined for Chinese patients with moderate depression. OBJECTIVE To assess the relative efficacy of Western music and five-element music in alleviating negative emotions and sleep disorders of Chinese patients who had moderate depression. METHODS Two hundred and one patients with moderate depression were recruited from August 2022 to February 2023 and randomly assigned to three groups: five-element music therapy (n = 67), Western music therapy (n = 67), and treatment as usual (n = 67). The five-element and Western music therapy groups received the assigned intervention measures once a day for two weeks. The primary outcome was the Hamilton Depression Scale score. The secondary outcomes were scores for the Hamilton Anxiety Scale and the Sleep Dysfunction Rating Scale. Data for the three groups of patients were collected on the day before intervention, the seventh day of intervention, and the fourteenth day of intervention. RESULTS Of the 201 patients enrolled, 183 completed all treatments and follow-ups. The full analysis set showed that the five-element music and Western music therapies effectively mitigated depression (B=-3.075, 95 % CI: -5.188, -0.961, P = 0.004; B=-1.985, 95 %CI: -3.908, -0.062, P = 0.043) and anxiety (B=-2.433, 95 % CI: -3.992, -0.874, P = 0.002; B=-2.672, 95 % CI: -4.221, -1.122, P = 0.001). But patients in the five-element music therapy group showed greater relief of symptoms of depression and anxiety compared with patients in the Western music therapy group; the difference was statistically significant (mean difference=-1.94±0.766, 95 %CI: -3.77, -0.11, P = 0.034; mean difference=-1.37±0.509; 95 %CI: -2.59, -0.15, P = 0.021). In addition, the five-element music group exhibited significant improvements in sleep (B=-3.119, 95 %CI: -5.016, -1.223, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION Preliminary research results suggest that five-element music may be used as an adjunct therapy with conventional treatment to more effectively alleviate depression and anxiety and improve sleep quality of Chinese patients who have moderate depression. REGISTRATION The trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100050682), and the initial recruitment began in August 2022.

Background Global displacement has reached unprecedented levels, with refugee mothers and children particularly vulnerable to psychological distress. Following the war in Ukraine, many families face trauma, disrupted parenting, and limited access to mental health services. Music therapy (MT) offers a non-pharmacological, culturally adaptable approach to support psychosocial wellbeing. This feasibility study explored the impact of a dyadic MT intervention on Ukrainian refugee caregivers and their children resettled in the UK. Methods Four groups of 4–6 caregiver-child dyads participated in an 8-week improvisational MT program, co-designed with caregivers and culturally tailored. A mixed-methods approach included: (1) quantitative pre/post measures of PTSD, depression, anxiety, wellbeing, cognitive functioning, parenting self-efficacy, musical home environment, and social connectedness; (2) physiological assessment of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) as an index of autonomic regulation; and (3) post-intervention semi-structured interviews with caregivers. Results Significant improvements were observed in caregivers’ PTSD, depression, anxiety, and cognitive functioning. RSA data indicated increased parasympathetic activity, suggesting improved emotional regulation. Non-significant trends emerged in parenting and home musical engagement. Qualitative analysis identified enhanced child communication, socio-emotional functioning, and transference of musical engagement into the home. Conclusion This study is the first to demonstrate the feasibility and potential efficacy of MT for improving mental health and parent-child dynamics among displaced Ukrainian families. Findings support MT as a low-cost, trauma-informed, and scalable intervention. Further research is needed to evaluate its impact in larger, culturally diverse refugee populations through randomized controlled trials.

Objective In the wider context of palliative care, problems faced by young people today, such as depression, mental illness, and suicide; are considered terminal problems, so they must be treated immediately and given appropriate intervention. Caution is needed in providing appropriate interventions for them, of course, interventions that are by their characteristics. Based on their character, they are a generation that is quite fragile and easily discouraged; on the other hand, they are a generation that is dynamic and passionate about creativity. There needs to be a match between what they need and what the intervention provides. One type of intervention in palliative care that has recently been offered is “rapid tele-psychotherapy” with single-session music therapy (RTP-SSMT), which is considered quite appropriate in responding to these challenges. Method I report the case of a 22-year-old broken-hearted girl with hopelessness, depression, and suicidal ideation. Results I describe the effectiveness of the implementation of RTP-SSMT in reducing the scales of hopelessness, depression, and suicidal ideation. Significance of Results It can be concluded that the implementation of the RTP-SSMT for a broken-hearted girl with conditions of hopelessness, depression, and suicidal ideation who can be at risk for suicide can be said to be effective in alleviating these negative feelings. Aside from that, through this study, the biggest implication is that the RTP-SSMT intervention theory can be a choice for mental health workers who want to process assistance to patients/clients who experience hopelessness, depression, and suicidal ideation in someone who has experienced a breakup.

Aim: Depression and cardiovascular diseases are interrelated. Music therapy is often used as an add-on therapy for patients with depression, as well as in long-term cardiac rehabilitation. While research has extensively elucidated heart rate variability (HRV) in psychiatric and cardiovascular conditions, studies focusing on the depression–HRV–music therapy triad are still lacking, hence the present short communication. Subjects and Methods: From January 2022 to January 2023, the Shanghai 10th People’s Hospital, affiliated with Tongji University, conducted an outpatient randomized controlled trial (G1: music therapy, n = 29; G2: music therapy combined with medication, n = 29) including patients aged 14 to 70 diagnosed with depression according to the CCMD-3 diagnostic manual, with a treatment duration of 8 weeks. Affective and cardiological states were assessed using the SCL-90 and 5-min HRV before and after the entire intervention, which applied multimodal music therapy techniques previously developed at the 10th People’s Hospital. Results: Both groups showed marked improvement after the entire treatment. Standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN) increased significantly in both G1 and G2 (p < 0.05); root mean square of successive RR interval differences (RMSSD) increased in G1 considerably, in G2 significantly (p < 0.05); SD1 and SD2 (Poincaré plot) increased significantly (p < 0.05) in both G1 and G2. SCL- 90 (depression) indicated significant improvement: G1 2.99 ± 0.99/2.40 ± 1.26 (p < 0.05) and G2 3.16 ± 0.94/2.60 ± 1.33 (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Both music therapy alone and combined with medication improves considerably HRV-parameters and psychopathological states in patients with depression. Combined therapy did not yield better results, which calls for clarification. As multimodal music therapy seems to be more efficient than, e.g., only listening to music, differentiation of music therapeutic styles is necessary.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most researched evidence-based practices in mental health treatment. While studies have examined the effectiveness of music therapy in comparison or in addition to cognitive behavioral therapy, none have examined how to use principles of cognitive behavioral therapy within the four music therapy methods using flexibility within fidelity as a framework. A real case example is provided to illustrate the incorporation of CBT principles into music therapy methods resulting in resolution of PTSD and anxiety symptoms.

Although Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are established treatments for depression, the effects of combining them with music therapy, a non-invasive, cost-effective adjunct, remain underexplored. In this multicenter randomized controlled trial (MC-RCT) with a four-arm parallel-group design, participants (n = 230) with DSM-5 MDD criteria from five major Iranian cities were randomized into four groups: Music Therapy + DIT, Music Therapy + CBT, Music Therapy alone, and Low-Intensity Therapy (LIT). Key outcome measures included the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-d-17) for depressive symptoms, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for sleep quality, and the Stroop Test for cognitive performance. Assessments were performed at baseline, mid-treatment (8 weeks), post-treatment (16 weeks), and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Data analysis involved mixed ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests. All active interventions reduced depressive symptoms, improved sleep, and enhanced cognition by week 16. MT+DIT showed the greatest and most sustained gains: 40.85 % symptom reduction, 44.26 % sleep improvement, and marked cognitive enhancements (45.85 % in cognitive flexibility, 40 % in processing speed, 75.05 % in selective attention, and 53.17 % in cognitive inhibition) at the 12-month follow-up. MT+CBT had substantial but less enduring effects. MT alone showed moderate initial improvement that declined at follow-up. These findings support the inclusion of music therapy combined with psychodynamic approaches in mental health treatment protocols, offering a viable, non-pharmacological option for comprehensive depression care.

Background Sleep disorders are very prevalent in cancer-related depression (CRD) patients, which seriously impacts their quality of life. But the curative effect of drugs is not ideal. Existing five-element music therapy (FEMT) is effective in improving sleep and emotion in cancer patients, but lacks attention to matching the patient’s subjective emotion to the music. In this study, we propose the innovative “FEMT based on emotion classification”, aiming to validate its effect on improving sleep and emotion in CRD patients, and to compare its efficacy with that of traditional FEMT. Methods 120 CRD patients were randomly divided into the emotional classification music group (ECMG), the traditional music group (TMG), and the no music group (NMG). The outcome index was the difference between the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) on the 14th and 28th days and baseline. the exploratory indexes were 5-HT, IL-1 β, IL-2, and TNF-α. Results Both ECMG and TMG significantly improved the total score of PSQI, HAMD, and HAMA. ECMG significantly improved sleep disorder on the 14th day, and improved both sleep disorder and daytime dysfunction on the 28th day.TMG improved overall sleep quality and daytime dysfunction on the 28th day. Conclusion Both therapies can effectively improve sleep disorders and negative emotions in patients with CRD. The former takes effect faster, while the latter has a more stable curative effect. The two therapies can be used as clinical adjuvant treatment, and personalized intervention programs can be selected according to patients’ needs. Clinical trial registration https://www.chictr.org.cn/index.html, identifier ChiCTR2200062181.

Music therapy is the clinical use of musical interventions to improve mental and physical health across multiple domains, including social communication. Autistic children, who have difficulties in social communication and often increased anxiety, tend to show a strong preference for music, because it can be structured and systematic, and therefore more predictable than social interaction. This makes music therapy a promising medium for therapeutic support and intervention. Previous clinical trials of music therapy compared to traditional therapy for autistic children have shown encouraging but nevertheless mixed results. The primary aim is to conduct a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of improvisational music therapy for autistic children and test its effectiveness in at improving social communication and wellbeing, and to reduce anxiety. The RCT will be conducted with 200 autistic children in the UK aged 7 to 11 years old. Participants will be randomly assigned to either improvisational music therapy or support as usual. The trial will be an assessor-blind, pragmatic two-arm cluster RCT comparing the impact of 12-weeks of improvisational music therapy in addition to support as usual, vs. support as usual for autistic children. Researchers who are blind to which arm the children are in will conduct assessments and obtain data via caregiver reports. The primary outcome will be the absolute change in the total score of the Brief Observation of Social Communication Change (BOSCC) assessed at baseline, T1 (13 weeks) and T2 (39 weeks) follow-ups. The BOSCC consists of specific items that were developed to identify changes in social-communication behaviours. Secondary outcome measures include: (1) Parent reported anxiety scale for youth with ASD (Note that we do not use the term ‘ASD’ or Autism Spectrum Disorder, because many autistic people feel it is stigmatising. Instead, we use the term ‘autism’) (PRAS-ASD) (2) Young Child Outcome Rating Scale, for wellbeing (YCORS), (3) Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ); and (4) Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale (VABS). (5) The Children’s Communication Checklist-2 (CCC-2) will be completed to evaluate pragmatic speech with fluent speakers only; (6) The Music Engagement Scale (MES); and (7) Assessment of the Quality of Relationship (AQR) will be used to evaluate the child-therapist relationships using video-analysis of music therapy sessions. Additional data will be collected by administering the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI-II), Music at Home Questionnaire (M@H), and children’s versions of the Empathy Quotient (EQ) and Systemizing Quotient (SQ). Audio and video data from the therapy sessions will be collected and analysed (using both human and computer-based feature-coding, e.g., machine learning and AI-driven methods) to identify how music and non-musical interactions foster change throughout the therapy. This study aims to observe if the interactions, engagement, and therapeutic modalities fostered during music therapy sessions can translate to non-musical contexts and improve autistic children’s social communication skills, identifying possible mediating factors contributing to the effectiveness of music therapy, potentially informing policy making and governance. This randomised control trial is registered with the NIH U.S. National Library of Medicine: https://clinicaltrials.gov/search?term=NCT06016621, clinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0601662, Registration Date 19th August 2023.

Introduction Some clinical studies have shown that music therapy as an adjunctive therapy can improve overall symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. However, the neural mechanisms of this improvement remain unclear due to insufficient neuroimaging evidence. Methods In this work, 17 patients with schizophrenia accepted a five-week music therapy (music group) that integrated listening, singing, and composing, and required patients to cooperate in a group to complete music therapy tasks. Meanwhile, 15 patients with schizophrenia received a five-week visual art intervention as the control group including handicraft and painting activities. We collected the Manchester Scale (MS) and Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) scores and electroencephalography (EEG) data before and after intervention in two groups. Results Behavioral results showed that both interventions mentioned above can effectively help patients with schizophrenia relieve their overall symptoms, while a trend-level effect was observed in favor of music therapy. The EEG results indicated that music therapy can improve abnormal neural oscillations in schizophrenia which is reflected by a decrease in theta oscillation in the parietal lobe and an increase in gamma oscillation in the prefrontal lobe. In addition, correlation analysis showed that in the music group, both reductions in theta oscillations in the parietal lobe and increases in gamma oscillations in the prefrontal lobe were positively correlated with the improvement of overall symptoms. Discussion These findings help us to better understand the neural mechanisms by which music therapy improves overall symptoms in schizophrenia and provide more evidence for the application of music therapy in other psychiatric disorders.

Music therapy is a type of expressive arts therapy that uses music to improve and maintain the physical, psychological, and social well-being of individuals. Studies have shown an impact on depression and anxiety, while there is very little literature that has focused on the negative symptoms of schizophrenia; hence, we aim to study the effectiveness of music therapy in patients with negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Seventy-nine patients were randomized to get 40 cases and 39 controls. Cases received music interventions in addition to standard treatment, while controls received only standard treatment. Both cases and controls’ negative symptoms were assessed with the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) before and after music therapy. The Chi-square test, independent t-test, and Mann–Whitney U test were used to determine the associations. We had 36 cases and 31 controls at the end of the music therapy, and there was an association of application of music therapy in negative symptoms of schizophrenia with occupation among cases (P = 0.037). There were huge differences in negative symptoms pre- and postmusic therapy among cases (31.44 ± 9.21) when compared to controls (4.42 ± 5.97) and significant association of affective flattening, alogia, avolition, anhedonia/asociality, and attentional impairment with music therapy (P < 0.00001 each). There is a significant association of each domain of negative symptoms of schizophrenia with music therapy and also improves work efficiency, irrespective of age, gender, marital status, education, and background of the patient with music therapy.

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Introduction: This study investigated a remotely delivered, therapist-facilitated, personalized music listening intervention for community-dwelling older adults experiencing loneliness during the Covid-19 pandemic. We assessed its feasibility and individuals’ experiences of social connection and emotional well-being during the intervention. Methods: Ten cognitively unimpaired older adults who endorsed loneliness completed eight weekly sessions with a board-certified music therapist via Zoom. Participants were guided in developing two online personalized music playlists and were asked to listen to playlists for at least one hour daily. Feasibility metrics were attendance, accessibility, and compliance rates. Post-study interview responses were analyzed using a rapid qualitative methodology. Exploratory pre- and post-study measures of loneliness and other aspects of psychological well-being were obtained using validated questionnaires. Results: Ten participants (mean age 75.38 [65 to 85] years, 80% women) were enrolled from March to August 2021. Attendance and compliance rates were 100% and the accessibility rate was 90%. Most participants associated music with positive memories before the program and many reported that the intervention prompted them to reconnect with music or listen to music with greater intention. They cited increased connection from interacting with the music therapist and the music itself, as well as specific positive emotional impacts from integrating music into their daily lives. Median pre- to post-questionnaire measures of psychological function all changed in an improved direction. Discussion: Remotely delivered music therapy may be a promising intervention to promote regular music listening and socioemotional well-being in lonely older adults.

Introduction In alignment with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) goal to provide comprehensive and integrated mental health services in community-based settings, this randomized control trial explored the efficacy of online group music therapy as a proactive intervention for reducing stress and anxiety in university students who do not necessarily have a diagnosis. Methods The study took place during COVID-19 restrictions. Students who volunteered were randomly assigned to 6 weeks of weekly (1) online active group music therapy, (2) online receptive group music therapy, (3) online group verbal therapy (standard of care), or (4) no-intervention (control group). Students rated their stress (Likert scale) and anxiety [State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, State version (STAI-S)], and provided heart rate variability (HRV) using a phone app, pre and post each therapy session. Results STAI-S and Likert stress scores significantly reduced from pre to post 45-min online music therapy sessions, with moderate evidence that these changes did not differ from the standard of care (verbal therapy). HRV results were not analyzed statistically as HRV collection was likely compromised due to challenges of remote collection. Students completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and provided a hair sample for cortisol analysis before and after the 6-week intervention. Changes in stress from week 1 to week 6 were not observed in the PSS measure; however, cortisol increased significantly in the control group as the term progressed, while it remained relatively stable in the therapy groups, suggesting therapy may lead to greater control of stress. Of participants’ demographic characteristics, music sophistication, personality, and changes in quality of life, only the personality trait of conscientiousness correlated significantly with PSS, suggesting online group therapy may be beneficial for a wide range of university students. Discussion The results suggest group music therapy can be as effective as group verbal therapy. Further, the study indicates that online delivery can be achieved effectively, supporting the idea that remote therapy may be a viable option for other populations. While the study should be replicated with a larger multi-site sample, it provides one example toward achieving a health-promoting culture on university campuses, consistent with the mental health goals of the Okanagan Charter.

Objective To evaluate the effect of virtual group music therapy on apathy in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Introduction Apathy affects 40% of people with PD, lacks effective therapies, and independently predicts poorer quality of life and greater caregiver burden. Music therapy is the clinical application of music to address a person’s physical or emotional needs and is effective in treating apathy in dementia. Methods People with idiopathic PD and apathy (Movement Disorders Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale, apathy item ≥ 2) and their caregivers participated in twelve, weekly virtual group music therapy sessions, with session attendance signifying adherence. Participants completed pre- and post-intervention assessments of apathy (Apathy Scale (AS)), quality of life (Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-short form), functional ability (Schwab & England Activities of Daily Living Scale), depression (Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II)), and cognition (Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Blind). Among secondary outcomes, we assessed caregiver burden (Zarit Burden Interview-short form) and strain (Multidimensional Caregiver Strain Index). Results Sixteen PD participants (93.8% men, mean age 68.3 ± 8.4 years, median 6 years PD duration) and their caregivers (93.8% women, mean age 62.6 ± 11 years) completed the study. All PD participants and 88% of caregivers were >70% adherent to the intervention. Apathy (AS, effect size = 0.767, P = 0.002) and depression (BDI-II, effect size = 0.542, P = 0.03) improved, with no change in caregiver measures. Conclusion Group music therapy is an effective treatment for apathy in PD and may improve mood. The virtual format is a feasible alternative to in-person sessions with high adherence and satisfaction.

This study looked at how exposure to interactive TV-based music and art therapy could assist in reducing suicidal thoughts of secondary school female children who survived abduction in Nigeria. A quasi-experiment was carried out in three randomly selected secondary schools in Northern Nigeria. The study sample comprised 470 students divided into three groups to form control group 235, art therapy group 118 and music therapy group 117. Results suggest that participants exposed to interactive TV-based art therapy and music therapy reported a lower score for suicidal ideation compared to the control group that was not exposed to any form of therapy aside from routine clinic checkups. Specifically, those exposed to interactive TV-based art therapy reported a lesser suicidal ideation score than the music and the control group. We recommend the introduction of interactive TV-based music therapy and art therapy in reducing suicidal ideation among children that survived kidnapping in Nigeria.

Objectives Examine whether change in clinical outcomes for patients with schizophrenia and negative symptoms randomized to either Music Therapy (MT) or Music Listening (ML) is associated to moderators and mediators, with focus on alliance, attendance and dropout. Method An exploratory post-hoc analysis of data from an original randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigating the effect of MT vs. ML for people with schizophrenia and negative symptoms. Inclusion to the study was implemented through screening of referred patients for symptoms of schizophrenia and negative symptoms. A total of 57 patients were randomly assigned, 28 to MT and 29 to ML. Session logs and notes were included in this study. Statistical analysis investigated moderator and mediator relation to outcome variables: Negative symptoms, functioning, quality of life, and retention to treatment. Results On average, participants in MT attended 18.86 sessions (SD = 7.17), whereas those in ML attended 12.26 (SD = 9.52), a statistically significant difference (p = 0.0078). Dropout at 25 weeks was predicted by intervention, with dropout being 2.65 (SE = 1.01) times more likely in ML than in music therapy (p = 0.009). Helping alliance score at weeks was explained by intervention, with mean score being 0.68 (SE = 0.32) points lower in ML than in MT (p = 0.042). The number of sessions attended was also explained by intervention, with participants in ML attending on average 6.17 (SE = 2.24) fewer sessions than those randomized to MT (p = 0.008). Though both groups improved significantly, improvements in negative symptoms, depression, and functioning tended to be higher in ML, whereas improvements in alliance and quality of life tended to be higher in MT. Conclusion The analysis could not detect a direct link between helping alliance score and outcome variables. However, the analysis documented a stronger alliance developed in the MT group, a lower dropout rate, as well as higher attendance in treatment. Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT02942459.

Healthcare providers advocate for active music therapy (AMT) for mental illnesses because it can be highly effective without the possible adverse effects that accompany pharmacological therapy. Though this form of therapeutic intervention has been thoroughly researched within the context of adolescent ADHD, depression, and bipolar disorder, the application of AMT within Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) has yet to be explored. This research paper employs a secondary mixed method comparative analysis to determine whether AMT in the form of structured piano lessons is a viable treatment option for DMDD adolescents. The results indicate an overlap between the neuroscience of AMT and the neural abnormalities of DMDD. The rapid reorganization of the sensorimotor network induced by active music therapy can remedy the cognitive inflexibility that causes the irritable outbursts of DMDD youth. An increase in time engaged in practicing piano is directly correlated with an increase in gray matter density, and the amygdala relies on this gray matter to process social behavior effectively. It is evident that active music therapy has the potential to transform treatment plans for DMDD youth though further research is needed to consolidate these findings through a confirmatory clinical trial.

This study aimed to determine the effect of 12 weeks of specific training (combining movement and music intervention) on children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), specifically by comparing the time of day (morning vs. afternoon) with cognitive functions, mood, and social integration. Thirty children (19 males, 11 females; mean age 7.8 ± 1.27 years) were randomly assigned to two groups: an Intervention Group and a Control Group (CG). The intervention protocol consisted of combined sessions of training, music, and motor activities, administered in a counterbalanced order: one session in the morning (9:00–9:45 a.m.) and one in the afternoon (4:00–4:45 p.m.). The control group continued their regular physical activity. Children were assessed at baseline and post-intervention for cognitive functions (Trail Making Test), maladaptive behaviors (RCS), and enjoyment (PACES). A repeated-measures ANOVA was used to analyze the interaction between the music and movement intervention and time of day. Results showed a significant increase in enjoyment in both experimental groups (morning and afternoon) compared to the control group (p < 0.001), with no significant difference between the morning and afternoon groups (p = 0.743). After 12 weeks, the experimental groups showed significant improvements in both stereotypical behaviors (p < 0.001) and cognitive functions (p < 0.001). However, the time of day did not significantly influence these improvements (p = 0.133 for stereotypical behaviors and p = 0.681 for cognitive functions). Significant improvements were observed in affective/emotional (p < 0.001) and motor control behaviors (p < 0.001), which partially reflect reductions in maladaptive behaviors. However, specific measures of social engagement did not show statistically significant changes (p > 0.05). Our study found no effect of time of day on the outcomes for children with autism spectrum disorders.

Background: Chronic pain (CP) represents the most prevalent form of pain experienced by patients. Among various conservative treatment modalities, music listening has emerged as a safe and effective strategy for pain management. However, the specific effects of music therapy (MT) on individuals with CP remain insufficiently understood. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the efficacy of MT in patients with CP. Methods: A total of 79 participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (EG) or the control group (CG). The EG received MT (receptive music listening) combined with health education, while the CG received health education alone. The primary outcome measure was the Simplified McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ). Secondary outcome measures included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and heart rate variability (HRV). Assessments for the EG were conducted at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and two weeks post-intervention. The CG was assessed at baseline and two weeks post-intervention. Results: Following treatment, the EG demonstrated significantly greater improvements in PHQ-9 scores and the low-frequency/high-frequency (LF/HF) ratio of HRV compared to the CG. Although both groups exhibited improvement over time, there were no statistically significant inter-group differences in total SF-MPQ scores post-intervention; however, the Present Pain Intensity (PPI) sub-score was significantly lower in the EG Furthermore, no significant inter-group differences were observed regarding anxiety or sleep outcomes. Conclusion: Music listening was found to may alleviate pain severity in patients with CP. Additionally, our findings indicate that MT can effectively reduce depressive symptoms, a common and disabling complication among individuals with CP. Furthermore, the observed modulation of the LF/HF ratio suggests that MT may regulate the balance of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system activity in these patients. These results suggest that MT can serve as an effective adjunctive intervention in the management of CP. Trial Registration: Registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (www.chictr.org.cn) on 01/06/2025 with the following code: ChiCTR-INR-2500095297.

Objectives Examine the feasibility of a Community Health Intervention through Musical Engagement (CHIME) in The Gambia to reduce common mental disorder (CMD) symptoms in pregnant women. Design Feasibility trial testing a randomised stepped-wedge cluster design. Setting Four local antenatal clinics. Participants Women who were 14–24 weeks pregnant and spoke Mandinka or Wolof were recruited into the intervention (n=50) or control group (n=74). Intervention Music-based psychosocial support sessions designed and delivered by all-female fertility societies. Sessions lasted 1 hour and were held weekly for 6 weeks. Delivered to groups of women with no preselection. Sessions were designed to lift mood, build social connection and provide health messaging through participatory music making. The control group received standard antenatal care. Outcomes Demographic, feasibility, acceptability outcomes and the appropriateness of the study design were assessed. Translated measurement tools (Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20); Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)) were used to assess CMD symptoms at baseline, post-intervention and 4-week follow-up. Results All clinics and 82% of women approached consented to take part. A 33% attrition rate across all time points was observed. 72% in the intervention group attended at least three sessions. Audio and video analysis confirmed fidelity of the intervention and a thematic analysis of participant interviews demonstrated acceptability and positive evaluation. Results showed a potential beneficial effect with a reduction of 2.13 points (95% CI (0.89 to 3.38), p<0.01, n=99) on the SRQ-20 and 1.98 points (95% CI (1.06 to 2.90), p<0.01, n=99) on the EPDS at the post-intervention time point for the intervention group compared with standard care. Conclusion Results demonstrate that CHIME is acceptable and feasible in The Gambia. To our knowledge, CHIME is the first example of a music-based psychosocial intervention to be applied to perinatal mental health in a low- and middle-income country context. Trial registration number Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR201901917619299).

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), a mood disorder with high recurrence rates, presents limitations in existing pharmacological treatments regarding improving patients' social functioning and emotional regulation. Music therapy has garnered significant attention due to its direct influence on the limbic system and its capacity to modulate emotional arousal levels. However, existing research on the neuropsychological mechanisms underlying active participatory music intervention for emotional regulation in depression remains lacking in quantitative evidence. Based on self-cognition and neuroplasticity theories, this study investigates the clinical efficacy of piano performance in regulating emotions among patients with mild to moderate depression. The core objective is to validate whether short-term, structured piano learning can serve as an effective medium for emotional catharsis and restructuring, thereby providing evidence-based non-pharmacological strategies for depression recovery. Sixty patients with mild to moderate depression were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 30). Inclusion criteria excluded severe suicidal tendencies or prior professional music training. Experimental process: (1) Baseline period (T0): All participants completed the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D-17) and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) upon enrollment, with clinical baseline data recorded. (2) Intervention period: Control group: Maintained original antidepressant medication regimen with routine psychiatric health education and follow-up. Intervention group: Received an 8-week piano intervention program in addition to the control group's regimen. Sessions occurred twice weekly for 45 minutes each, emphasizing emotional expression through performance. (3) Evaluation phase (T1): HAM-D and PANAS assessments were conducted at the conclusion of the 8-week intervention period for both groups. Results: Baseline comparisons revealed no significant differences between groups in age, disease duration, or HAM-D scores at T0 (p>.05), indicating comparability. Primary outcomes after 8 weeks of intervention are summarized in Table 1: Depression severity significantly decreased, with the intervention group exhibiting a significant reduction in HAM-D scores at T1 compared to baseline (p<.001) and significantly lower scores than the control group at the same time point (10.42 ± 2.85 vs 16.15 ± 3.10, p<.01). Positive affect was significantly improved. PANAS results showed that the intervention group exhibited a significantly greater increase in positive affect scores compared to the control group (Cohen's d = 0.68). This study confirms that an 8-week structured piano intervention effectively alleviates depressive symptoms in patients with mild to moderate depression through dual pathways of cognitive restructuring and emotional sublimation, while enhancing positive emotional experiences. It may serve as an effective adjunctive therapeutic approach in the field of mental health rehabilitation. Limited by sample size and follow-up duration, future studies should expand sample size, extend follow-up periods, and integrate techniques such as electroencephalography or functional magnetic resonance imaging to further explore the underlying neural circuit mechanisms. No. 2024SJYB0460.

BACKGROUND Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurobehavioral disorder. Treatments for ADHD include pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapy. However, pharmacological treatments have side effects such as poor appetite, sleep disturbance, and headache. Moreover, nonpharmacological treatments are not effective in ameliorating core symptoms and are time-consuming. Hence, developing an alternative and effective treatment without (or with fewer) side effects is crucial. Music therapy has long been used to treat numerous neurological diseases. Although listening to music is beneficial for mood and cognitive functions in patients with ADHD, research on the effects of music and movement therapy in children with ADHD is lacking. METHODS The present study investigated the effects of an 8-week music and movement intervention in 13 children with ADHD. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) was used to evaluate changes in participants' quality of life. Conners' Kiddie Continuous Performance Test (K-CPT 2) and the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham rating scale (SNAP-IV) were used to assess core symptoms. Electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings were analyzed to determine neurophysiological changes. RESULTS The results revealed that the participants' quality of life increased significantly after the 8-week intervention. Furthermore, the participants' hit reaction times in the block 1 and block 2 tests of K-CPT 2 decreased significantly after the intervention. EEG analysis demonstrated an increase in alpha power and Higuchi's fractal dimension and a decrease in delta power in certain EEG channels. CONCLUSION Our music and movement intervention is a potential alternative and effective tool for ADHD treatment and it can significantly improve patients' quality of life and attention.

Patients diagnosed with both substance use disorder (SUD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often experience hypervigilance, increased fear, and difficulties regulating emotions. This dual diagnosis increases treatment complexity. Recently, a short-term music therapy intervention for arousal and attention regulation (the SMAART intervention) was designed based on neurobiological findings. Twelve patients with SUD and PTSD (50% females) in outpatient treatment participated in six weekly one-hour sessions of the SMAART intervention. Six patients completed the study. PTSD symptom severity was evaluated with the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale Interview for DSM-5 (PSSI-5) pre- and post-intervention, and sustained attention was evaluated with the Bourdon-Wiersma (BW) test. A significant difference in measurements for the PSSI-5 overall symptom severity was found pre- and post-intervention. Furthermore, participants showed significant improvement on subscales of hyperarousal, mood and cognition, and attention. The BW test completion time decreased significantly. Two participants dropped out before the end of the intervention due to craving. Concerning future research, it is recommended to define the role of the music more explicitly and to change the design to a randomized controlled trial. A risk for future larger studies is a high dropout rate (50%). Several limitations of the study are discussed.

BACKGROUND Music can directly influence emotions, the regulation of which are known to be impaired in major depressive disorder (MDD). While music therapy (MT) could be an effective complement to treat MDD, studies investigating such effects have not yet yielded conclusive results. We hypothesized that group music therapy (GMT) might lead to a significant reduction of depressive symptoms (DS). METHODS In a randomized controlled trial, 102 women with current MDD were randomly assigned to an intervention group receiving GMT or a waitlist control group. Data assessment was conducted pre- (T0), post- (T1), and at a 10-week follow-up to (T2) the intervention. DS as the primary outcome were assessed via observer-rated (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, T0-T1), self-rated (Beck Depression Inventory, T0-T1-T2), and ecological momentary (T0-T1) assessments. Secondary effects on emotion and mood regulation strategies, and quality of life (QoL), were measured T0-T1-T2. RESULTS The results suggest non-significant effects of the GMT on a descriptive level on self-reported and observer rated DS and statistically significant effects on DS in everyday life, QoL, and regulation strategies, with larger effects from T0-T1 than from T0-T1-T2. LIMITATIONS The generalizability is limited by the high dropout rate and data loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fact that long-term effects of GMT are not assured, and the homogeneous gender (female) of the sample. CONCLUSIONS GMT is an economical approach to treat MDD, yielding health-promoting effects regarding DS, emotion regulation, and QoL. Manualization and further evaluation of MT is strongly recommended.

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Adolescents are uniquely susceptible to depression, which is a mood disorder that causes severe symptoms which affect how one thinks, feels, and handles daily activities (Geipel et al.1: National Institute of Health). Pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy are the two leading modes of treatment for youths, but pharmacotherapy has been found to increase risks of relapse and suicide (Erkkila et al. 2). Within psychotherapy, group music therapy has emerged as a strong treatment option to meet the unique needs of adolescents. Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music intervention to accomplish individualized goals within a therapy program (American Music Therapy Association). Group music therapy allows for connections and interpersonal relationships to be built, provides an alternate form of expression, and has a collaborative aspect; this differentiates group music therapy from other types of therapy. This paper will examine what current treatment options for depression in youths are lacking, different opinions about group music therapy, and challenges against implementation of group music therapy as a widespread treatment method for depression in youths.

Background Social cognition (SC), the ability to interpret and respond to social situations appropriately, is essential for effective interpersonal functioning. Challenges in these areas are a core feature of depression. Evidence shows mixed findings regarding the extent and presence of these deficits in depression, especially in its milder forms. SC comprises key processes such as the theory of mind (ToM), attribution style, emotion, and social perception. In addition to exploring emotion perception (EP) ability through faces and vocal stimuli, music has recently emerged as a valuable tool in studying EP, given the effectiveness of music intervention in improving mood and overall emotional functioning in patients with depression. Aim This study aimed to explore social cognition abilities in patients with mild–moderate major depressive disorder (MDD) and investigate the relationship between SC and neurocognition in depression. Methods Nineteen patients diagnosed with mild–moderate MDD and eighteen age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy controls (HCs) (n = 18) were assessed using the Social Cognition Rating tools in the Indian Setting (SOCRATIS), the NIMHANS Emotion Perception Test (NEPT; assessing facial and prosodic domains), and the Music Emotion Perception Test (MEPT). Results Patients with MDD showed significant deficits in first-order ToM (FOT) compared to HCs (p = 0.01). On the music emotion recognition test, the MDD group rated the intensity of positive emotions (e.g., happiness) significantly lower than the HC group (p = 0.007). However, no significant group differences were found in the accuracy of emotion identification across facial, prosodic, or musical stimuli. Correlational analyses revealed trends toward significant positive associations between attention and second-order ToM (SOT; r = 0.58, p < 0.01), as well as between the executive function (EF) index and EP (r = 0.60, p < 0.01), SOT (r = 0.56, p = 0.01), and social perception (r = 0.60, p < 0.01). Conclusion Individuals with mild–moderate depression show reduced FOT ability and emotion scaling of positive emotions on music excerpts. A potential association exists between neurocognitive (attention and EFs) and SC measures.

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No abstract available

Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is a neuropsychiatric condition caused by problems with the functioning of the nervous system, in which patients experience neurological symptoms, resulting in significant functional impairment and distress. The various subtypes of FND categorise the wide range of diverse symptoms common with the disorder, from motoric to sensory and cognitive. The diverse symptom experience, coupled with common comorbidities and risk factors such as anxiety and mood disorders, make it especially difficult to determine suitable individualised treatment plans for FND patients. Literature suggests that multimodal treatment options would have implications for success with this population, due to the ability to integrate the physiological care and psychological needs of patients. The MTFUND clinical protocol utilises multimodal vibroacoustic music therapy, in which the elements (vibroacoustic therapy and active music therapy) meet the need for individualised care due to their inherent flexibility as interventions, while providing a consistent structured treatment protocol. The MTFUND protocol is presented and details regarding the ongoing research study are outlined. To evaluate the protocol, we conducted semi-structured discussions with patients and therapists. Two separate inductive reflexive thematic analyses were conducted to examine their experiences. The themes contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the patients’ experiences with FND, and the therapists’ perspectives on implementing the protocol, ultimately contributing towards evaluating the efficacy of the protocol.

Objectives Smartphone-based music intervention (S-MI) may increase the accessibility and feasibility for benefiting patients. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of S-MI in alleviating emotional and psychosomatic symptoms in patients with hematological malignancies, compared to the smartphone delivered Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Training (S-MBSR). Methods This study will be a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial design. A total of 120 eligible participants with hematological malignancies will be randomly assigned to either the experimental group (S-MI) (n = 60) or the comparison group (S-MBSR) (n = 60). Participants will use the Mind Habit app to participate in daily sessions of S-MI or S-MBSR, lasting 5–10 min each, for 2 weeks. The primary outcome, anxiety, and the secondary outcomes, depression, sleep quality, psychological perceived harmony, emotional regulation self-efficacy, as well as the exploratory outcome performance status, will be assessed four times (i.e., pre-test, mid-test, post-test, and follow-up) using validated instruments: the General Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Inventory, Balanced Index of Psychological Mindedness, Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy Scale and Zubrod/ECOG/WHO. In addition, participants will provide daily self-reports on their mood and psychosomatic symptoms both before and after each day's intervention. Physiological parameters will be collected at pre- and post-test. Compliance will be measured at pre-test and follow-up. Intent-to-Treat and Per Protocol Set analysis will be used for data analysis. Results The primary outcome will focus on evaluating the change of anxiety. Secondary outcomes will examine the changes in depression, sleep quality, psychological perceived harmony, and emotional regulation self-efficacy. The exploratory outcomes will encompass assessments of performance status, self-reported evaluations, physiological parameters, and compliance. Conclusion This study aims to provide empirical evidence supporting the efficacy of S-MI in mitigating emotional and psychosomatic symptoms in patients with hematological malignancies. Trial Registration The trial was registered and identified as ChiCTR2200065896.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a common sequelae of severe combat-related emotional trauma that is often associated with significantly reduced quality of life in afflicted veterans. To date, no published study has examined the effect of an active, music-instruction intervention as a complementary strategy to improve the psychological well-being of veterans with PTSD. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and potential effectiveness of an active, music-instruction intervention in improving psychological health and social functioning among Veterans suffering from moderate to severe PTSD. The study was designed as a prospective, delayed-entry randomized pilot trial. Regression-adjusted difference in means were used to examine the intervention’s effectiveness with respect to PTSD symptomatology (primary outcome) as well as depression, perceptions of cognitive failures, social functioning and isolation, and health-related quality of life (secondary outcomes). Of the 68 Veterans who were self- or provider-referred to the program, 25 (36.7%) were ineligible due to (i) absence of a PTSD diagnosis (n = 3); participation in ongoing intense psychotherapy (n = 4) or inpatient substance abuse program (n = 2); current resident of the Domiciliary (n = 8) and inability to participate due to distance of residence from the VA (n = 8). Only 3 (4.4%) Veterans declined participation due to lack of interest. The mean age of enrolled subjects was 51 years old [range: 22 to 76]. The majority was male (90%). One-quarter were African American or Black. While 30% report working full or part time, 45% were retired due to disability. Slightly over one-quarter were veterans of the OEF/OIF wars. Estimates from regression-adjusted treatment effects indicate that the average PTSD severity score was reduced by 9.7 points (p = 0.01), or 14.3% from pre- to post-intervention. Similarly, adjusted depressive symptoms were reduced by 20.4% (− 6.3 points, p = 0.02). There were no statistically significant regression-adjusted effects on other outcomes, although the direction of change was consistent with improvements. Our findings suggest that the active, music-instruction program holds promise as a complementary means of ameliorating PTSD and depressive symptoms among this population. Trial registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with protocol number Medical College of Wisconsin PRO00019269 on 11/29/2018 (Retrospectively registered).

Simple Summary Changes in the redox status and inflammation represent shared features among breast cancer, radiotherapy (RT)-related side effects, and mood disorders. Markers of peroxidation and inflammation are increased in patients with anxiety and depression, and their blockage could modulate these symptoms in cancer patients. The current literature about the role of psychotherapy with music intervention (PMI) in modulating anxiety, depression, and redox/inflammation status in breast cancer patients undergoing RT is still scant. To our knowledge, this is the first randomized trial showing PMI beneficial effects not only on anxiety and depression, but also on redox status. The results obtained highlight the potential of integrative therapies, specifically of PMI, as a valuable tool for the management of mood disorders in breast cancer patients undergoing RT. Findings concerning the redox status are promising and warrant further investigation. Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the effects of psychotherapy with music intervention (PMI) on anxiety, depression, redox status, and inflammation in breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT). This monocentric randomized clinical trial recruited 60 patients who had a breast cancer operation and were undergoing postoperative RT. Eligible patients were randomized (1:1) in two groups: the control group (CG) received treatment as usual (n = 30), i.e., RT alone; the intervention group (PMI) received RT and psychotherapy with music intervention (n = 30), which was delivered in a group setting. Five patients were excluded after randomization. Assessments were performed at baseline (T0), at the end of RT (T1), and three months after the end of RT (T2). The main objectives of the study were the assessment of anxiety/depression, plasma glutathione (GSH), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the two arms of the study. Our findings revealed a positive effect of PMI on anxiety, depression, resilience, and quality of life. Furthermore, a positive effect of PMI on redox status was found for the first time. Thus, in the PMI group, we found a significant increase of GSH (mean change 2.2 95%, CI 0.7 to 3.7) and a significant reduction of TBARS (mean change −1.1 95%, CI −1.8 to −0.3) at T2 vs. T0.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to investigate the clinical effectiveness of the combination of multimodal exercise (MME) with supportive music and imagery in the management of poststroke mood disorders (PSMD). METHODS: A total of 200 PSMD patients treated in the neurology department of a tertiary hospital in Jiangsu Province were enrolled. They were assigned to either a control group or the observation group using a random number table at a 1:1 ratio, with 100 patients in each group. The control group received conventional nursing care, and the observation group received both MME and music and imagery in addition to the conventional nursing interventions. The scores of the 10-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Well-being Index Scale (WBIS) were recorded before and 3, 6, and 9 months after the interventions and compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Changes in K10, HADS, and WBIS scores significantly differed between the 2 groups after interventions (all P < .05) and among different time points (all P < .05). There were interactions between the time points of the K10, HADS, and WBIS assessments and the intervention methods in both groups (P < .05). The improvements in anxiety or depression and psychological distress in the observation group were significantly superior to those in the control group. CONCLUSION: MME combined with music and imagery can effectively improve anxiety and depression, reduce symptoms of psychological distress, and improve well-being in PSMD patients.

ABSTRACT Introduction Women with substance use disorders (SUDs) are more inclined to use drugs and relapse for regulating emotions compared to men. This study aimed to explore the effects of group music and imagery in alleviating anxiety, depression, emotion regulation difficulties, and craving for women with methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) in a compulsory rehabilitation context. Method A total of 90 women with MUD were randomly assigned to the music therapy treatment arm (n = 45) or control treatment arm (n = 45). Participants in the music therapy treatment arm received 12 biweekly sessions of group music and imagery (GrpMI) and those in the control treatment arm received 6 weeks of usual care. Anxiety, depression, emotion regulation difficulties, and craving were assessed at pre-test and post-test. Results After the intervention, participants in the GrpMI group reported significantly greater improvements than those in the control group for state anxiety (F = 6.27; p = .02; Partial η2 = .13), trait anxiety (F = 4.49; p = .04; Partial η2 = .09), depression (F = 5.48; p = .02; Partial η2 = .11), and craving (F = 4.53; p = .04; Partial η2 = .09). There was no significant difference between groups in emotion regulation difficulties (F = .95, p = .34, Partial η2 = .09). Discussion GrpMI significantly decreased depression, anxiety, and craving for women with MUD. Emotion regulation ability may need a longer period of treatment for significant improvement. Future studies could add long-term follow-up and compare the effects of group music therapy in women versus men with SUDs.

Background and objective Most individuals with schizophrenia reside in the community, where they frequently encounter difficulties related to emotional problems and social functioning– critical areas of concern in the rehabilitation process. This study aims to investigate the effects of a comprehensive group music therapy intervention on the emotional state and social functioning of individuals with schizophrenia undergoing community rehabilitation. Methods A total of 28 individuals with schizophrenia in community rehabilitation were randomly assigned to either the music intervention group (n = 14) or the control group (n = 14). The music intervention group participated in an 8-week comprehensive group music therapy intervention, while the control group continued with routine family life. The music therapy program was culturally adapted to the local community context, incorporating familiar regional music and dialect. The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) served as the primary outcome to assess affective changes, and the Social Disability Screening Schedule (SDSS) served as the secondary outcome to evaluate social functioning. Both measures were administered pre- and post-intervention. In addition, some participants in the intervention group completed semi-structured interviews to explore changes in social functioning and affect. Results Following the intervention, the music therapy group showed significant improvements in positive affect, social activities and self-care, as measured by the PANAS and SDSS, respectively. In contrast, no significant pre-post changes were observed in the control group. Semi-structured interviews further supported these findings, with participants in the intervention group reporting enhanced emotional state and improved social functioning. Conclusion Comprehensive group music therapy appears to be an effective intervention for improving emotional states and social functioning in individuals with schizophrenia engaged in community rehabilitation. This culturally adapted intervention model demonstrates its potential for broader application.

Chronic schizophrenia is a long-term mental disorder mainly characterized by cognitive dysfunction, emotional bland and social dysfunction. In recent years, folk music therapy, as a kind of non-drug intervention, has attracted more and more attention in the field of mental health due to its cultural adaptability and emotional resonance effect. The purpose of this study is to explore the specific effect of folk music therapy in the treatment of chronic schizophrenia, and to provide theoretical basis for comprehensive treatment. The study is a randomized controlled trial that included 120 patients with chronic schizophrenia. They were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, with 60 patients in each group. Both groups received conventional drug treatment and basic psychological intervention, and the experimental group received folk music therapy intervention on this basis for 12 weeks. Folk music therapy consists of three parts: listening to folk music once a day for 30 minutes each time, selecting the folk music that the patient is familiar with or likes; Music participation activities once a week, including folk instrument playing practice and folk singing guidance, 60 minutes each time; Musical emotional expression is performed once a week to guide patients to express their emotions and communicate their feelings through music. Before and after the intervention, positive and negative symptom scales, social dysfunction screening scales and subjective well-being scales were used to evaluate the patients. The positive and negative symptom scale scores of the intervention and control groups were shown in Figure. 1. As can be seen from Figure 1 (a), the positive and negative symptom scale scores of patients in the experimental group decreased significantly, with positive symptoms decreasing from 45.3±8.7 before intervention to 30.8±6.2, and negative symptoms decreasing from 48.7±9.1 to 33.5±7.3. As can be seen from Figure 1 (b), the positive and negative symptom scales in the control group decreased slightly, with positive symptoms decreasing from 44.9±8.5 to 36.2±6.8, and negative symptoms decreasing from 48.5±9.3 to 38.9±7.9, with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P<0.01). Social function Deficit Screening Scale scores showed significant improvement in the experimental group, from 8.5±2.3 to 5.4±1.8 before the intervention, while the control group changed less, from 8.6±2.2 to 6.8±2.1. The subjective well-being scale score showed that the experimental group’s score increased by 36.7% after the intervention, while the control group’s score increased by only 12.4%. The study showed that ethnomedical therapy can significantly improve the clinical symptoms, social function and subjective well-being of patients with chronic schizophrenia. Possible mechanisms include the modulating effect of music on the emotional center of the brain, the enhancement of emotional resonance by cultural background, and the use of folk music as a form of psychological support. Folk music therapy not only improves patients’ compliance, but also promotes the expression and regulation of patients’ emotions. This study can provide some guidance for the treatment of chronic schizophrenia.

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. 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. 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). 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. No. KJQN202304406; No. Z233173; No. K24ZG3260163.

No abstract available

Background Music therapy has been shown to be effective for multiple clinical endpoints associated with substance use disorder such as craving reduction, emotion regulation, depression, and anxiety, but there are a lack of studies investigating those effects in UK Community Substance Misuse Treatment Services (CSMTSs). Furthermore, there is a demand for identifying music therapy mechanisms of change and related brain processes for substance use disorder treatment. The present study aims to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of music therapy and a pre-test, post-test, and in-session measurement battery in a CSMTS. Methods Fifteen participants, from a community service based in London, will take part in a mixed-methods non-blind randomized-controlled trial. Ten participants will receive six-weekly sessions of music therapy in addition to the standard treatment offered by the CSMTS—five of them will receive individual music therapy and five of them will receive group music therapy—while a further five participants will act as a control group receiving standard treatment only. Satisfaction and acceptability will be evaluated in focus groups with service users and staff members following the final treatment session. Moreover, attendance and completion rates will be monitored throughout the intervention. Subjective and behavioral indexes will be assessed before and after the interventions to explore the effects of music therapy on craving, substance use, symptoms of depression and anxiety, inhibitory control, and will be correlated with associated neurophysiological signatures. In-session analysis of two individual music therapy sessions will serve to explore how music and emotion are processed in the brain within the therapy. The data collected at each step will be included in an intention-to-treat analysis basis. Discussion This study will provide a first report on the feasibility of music therapy as an intervention for participants with substance use disorder engaged within a community service. It will also provide valuable information regarding the implementation of a multifaceted methodology that includes neurophysiological, questionnaire-based, and behavioral assessments in this cohort. Notwithstanding the limitation of a small sample size, the present study will provide novel preliminary data regarding neurophysiological outcomes in participants with substance use disorder that received music therapy. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrails.gov, NCT0518061, Registered 6 January 2022, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05180617

Background: Music therapy as a non-pharmacotherapy management has not been widely used. Data about effectiveness, ideal number of sessions and types/methods of music therapy have not been widely studied in Indonesia. Therefore, this study was designed to answer these problems so that music therapy can be applied appropriately. Objective : To determine the effect of music therapy on the improvement of clinical symptoms and cognitive function of schizophrenic patients that are receiving risperidone therapy. Methods : This study was an experimental study with comparative analysis. Sampling with consecutive sampling on the population of patients who were hospitalized in the Regional Special Hospital of South Sulawesi Province. The treatment group received risperidone therapy and music therapy (active and receptive) 6-8 sessions with a duration of 45 minutes/session, the control group only received risperidone 2-4 mg/day. The instruments used were the PANSS and the MoCA - Indonesian version, examined in the second and fourth weeks after music therapy. Results: There was a significant difference between the treatment group compared to the control group in decreasing the PANSS score for negative symptoms (p=0.000), general psychopathology (4th week p=0.011) and cognitive function (4th week p=0.000) especially on visuospatial components (p=0.001), attention (p=0.009) and abstraction (p=0.011). There was no significant difference between the treatment group compared to the control group in decreasing the PANSS score for positive symptoms (p=0.0.102) Conclusion: Music therapy can be a non-pharmacological therapy of choice to support the improvement of negative symptoms, cognitive function and general psychopathology in the stabilization phase of schizophrenic patients receiving risperidone.

ABSTRACT Objective: Music therapy (MT) is a non-pharmacological approach that has been used for the treatment of depression, anxiety, emotional distress, and mood disorders. This study aimed to compare the intervention effects of active MT (such as singing, playing, and music composition) and passive MT (such as listening) on negative symptoms and cognitive function in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Methodology: Clinical records of 120 chronic schizophrenia patients who received active/passive MT in the male ward of The Seventh Peoples Hospital of Wenzhou City, China, from April, 2024 to February, 2025 were retrospectively analyzed. The cohort included 60 cases of active MT and 60 cases of passive MT. The scoring results of the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Intrinsic Motivation Inventory for Schizophrenia Research (IMI-SR) were compared between the two groups. Results: After intervention, the scores of PANSS general subscale, PANSS negative subscale, PANSS total score, and the SANS score in the active MT group were lower than those in the passive MT group (P<0.05). Active MT was associated with significantly higher MoCA and IMI-SR scores compared to the passive MT (P<0.05). Conclusions: Compared with passive MT, active MT is more effective in improving negative symptoms, cognitive function, and intrinsic motivation in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Active MT can improve negative symptoms in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Active MT improves cognitive function in patients with chronic schizophrenia.- Compared with passive MT, active MT has higher benefits in treating patients with schizophrenia.

Background There is anecdotal evidence for beneficial effects of music therapy in patients with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). However, there is a lack of rigorous research investigating this issue. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of music therapy and physical activity on brain plasticity, mood, and cognition in a population with AD and at risk for AD. Methods One-hundred and thirty-five participants with memory complaints will be recruited for a parallel, three-arm Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT). Inclusion criteria are a diagnosis of mild (early) AD or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or memory complaints without other neuropsychiatric pathology. Participants are randomised into either a music therapy intervention (singing lessons), an active control group (physical activity) or a passive control group (no intervention) for 12 months. The primary outcomes are the brain age gap, measured via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and depressive symptoms. Secondary outcomes include cognitive performance, activities of daily living, brain structure (voxel-based morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging), and brain function (resting-state functional MRI). Trial status Screening of participants began in April 2018. A total of 84 participants have been recruited and started intervention, out of which 48 participants have completed 12 months of intervention and post-intervention assessment. Discussion Addressing the need for rigorous longitudinal data for the effectiveness of music therapy in people with and at risk for developing AD, this trial aims to enhance knowledge regarding cost-effective interventions with potentially high clinical applicability. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03444181, registered on February 23, 2018.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Patients with schizophrenia often suffer from sleep disturbance. Music therapy, as a non-invasive intervention, may have benefit on sleep problem in such population. Our study aimed to investigate the efficacy of music therapy on sleep disturbance among patients with schizophrenia. METHOD This prospective study recruited participants with schizophrenia along with sleep disturbances in the chronic wards. Patients in the control group received standard care, and those in the intervention group received additional music therapy before sleeping at night for four weeks. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to measure the severity of sleep disturbance. The generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to analyze measure the difference of change in PSQI scores between both groups at the baseline and four weeks later. It was also applied to find the predictors of treatment efficacy within intervention group. FINDINGS A total of 66 (31 in control group and 35 in intervention group) participants were recruited. After adjusting with the demographic variables, the change of PSQI among intervention group was significantly more than the change among control group (Group × time; Estimate = -7.05, p < 0.001), indicating the efficacy of music therapy. In addition, irreligious patients and those with chronic medical disease predicted better efficacy. Whereas, elderly patients had compromising efficacy of music therapy. CONCLUSION Music therapy demonstrated its merit on sleep disturbance among patients with schizophrenia. Whereas, healthcare workers should consider the variability of severity in schizophrenia during clinical practice.

Schizophrenia is a chronic disease which requires long-term rehabilitation. Several types of social rehabilitation group have been established, including social skills training, coping-with-stress training, occupational therapy, art therapy, music therapy, and entertainment therapy. Of these therapies, music therapy has shown significant effects in treating schizophrenia. The purpose of the study was to assess the effectiveness of group music therapy on psychotic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and also to assess the global functioning postmusic therapy. Sixty patients admitted with schizophrenia from DIMHANS, Dharwad, in a tertiary psychiatric care hospital, was taken for study. Thirty patients were assigned to the music therapy group and 30 to standard treatment group. Positive and negative symptoms along with global functioning in schizophrenia patients assessed by SAPS,SANS and GAF scales respectively thrice, before(pre), after(post)music therapy and post 1 month of music therapy. Significant difference between music therapy group and standard therapy group seen, in post music therapy sessions. This is a pilot study done in DIMHANS Dharwad, one of few studies done in India to see the effectiveness of music therapy on positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia along with assessing the effectiveness of music therapy on global functioning. This study showed there is positive and additive effect of music therapy on schizophrenia patients along with standard therapy, rather than standard therapy alone. Hence, along with standard therapy, music therapy should also be added to the treatment of schizophrenia patients for better outcome.

No abstract available

Music therapy has evolved from an empirical intervention to an evidence-based practice and is demonstrating broad translational potential in neuroscience and rehabilitation medicine. This study presents an end-to-end multimodal music-therapy framework that integrates electroencephalography (EEG), movement feedback, and musical signals. A CNN–GRU–Attention architecture is employed for low-latency feature extraction and cross-modal alignment, while Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) and Iterative Dynamic Programming (IDP) are leveraged to optimize edge-side real-time inference. A neural-plasticity integral model is formulated to quantify the mechanisms by which musical stimuli regulate cerebral oscillations and drive synaptic remodeling. In a multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT, n = 82), the music-based intervention significantly improved social responsiveness (Cohen's d = 1.12, p < 0.001) and reduced anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorder; a subsequent meta-analysis corroborated its efficacy across multiple indications. These findings delineate a systematic pathway for the theoretical modeling, technical implementation, and clinical translation of multimodal music therapy, thereby advancing the development of rehabilitation medicine and digital therapeutics.

Background: Hallucinations are perceptual disturbances that occur without external stimuli, affecting one or more of the five senses while the individual is fully conscious. In 2024, schizophrenia patients experiencing hallucinations accounted for 2,335 (54.2%) of total admissions at Dr. RM Soedjarwadi Regional Mental Hospital, Central Java Province, making them the largest patient group treated at the facility. Non-pharmacological interventions play a vital role in managing psychiatric symptoms, and music therapy, particularly classical music has shown potential in reducing psychological distress and improving cognitive and emotional functioning. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of classical music therapy in reducing the severity of auditory hallucinations among patients with psychiatric disorders at Dr. RM Soedjarwadi Regional Mental Hospital. Methods: A descriptive case study design was employed, with two respondents undergoing classical music therapy based on the pretest-posttest method. The Auditory Hallucinations Rating Scale (AHRS) questionnaire was used to assess changes in the frequency, intensity, and impact of hallucinations before and after the intervention. Results: Prior to the intervention, both respondents exhibited severe levels of auditory hallucinations, with baseline AHRS scores of 23 and 26, respectively. Following the implementation of classical music therapy, scores decreased significantly to 8 and 9, both falling within the mild category. Conclusion: The findings indicate that classical music therapy, particularly the use of Mozart compositions, is effective in reducing the severity of auditory hallucinations in patients with psychiatric disorders. This suggests that music therapy can serve as a valuable non-pharmacological adjunct in the management of hallucinatory symptoms in clinical psychiatric settings.

This study aims to determine the effect of music therapy on the level of aggression in schizophrenia patients. The research method used was quasi-experimental with one group pre-test and post-test design. A total of 25 respondents were selected using accidental sampling techniques. The intervention was given in four music therapy sessions with a gradual duration of between 30 to 45 minutes per session. The level of aggression was measured using  the Buss and Perry Aggression Questionnaire. The Relationship Between Cognitive Function and Aggression in Schizophrenia Patients (Indonesia, 2023). This study was conducted at Ernaldi Bahar Hospital in Palembang and used the BPAQ to measure aggression and the MoCA-Ina to assess cognitive function.  The results showed a significant negative relationship between cognitive function and aggression (p = 0.04; r = -0.340), meaning that a decline in cognitive function is associated with increased aggression in schizophrenia patients.  Multivariate analysis showed that cognitive function scores influenced aggression scores (R² = 0.207; β = -0.730; p = 0.005).The results of the analysis showed a significant decrease in aggression levels after the administration of music therapy. A statistical test using the Wilcoxon Test  yielded  a P-value of < 0.001, which indicates that music therapy has a significant effect on reducing aggression levels in schizophrenic patients.

Background: We report UK findings from Music Interventions for Depression and Dementia in Elderly care (MIDDEL), a cross-national, clustered, randomised trial undertaken in 2018–2023 to evaluate the effectiveness of music interventions for depression symptoms in care home residents living with dementia (NCT03496675, clinicaltrials.gov (accessed on 1 December 2024)). The trial compared the effects of Group Music Therapy (GMT) with Recreational Choir Singing (RCS); GMT and RCS combined; and treatment as usual (TAU). Methods: In the intervention arms, the protocolized music interventions were delivered in care home units twice per week for three months, then once per week for three months. The primary outcome was depressive symptoms after six months, measured by MADRS. Secondary outcomes included well-being—EQ-5D-5L, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS); quality of life—QOL-AD; symptoms of dementia—SIB-8, NPI-Q; and caregiver distress—NPI-Q. The change in MADRS score from baseline to 6 months was assessed using a linear mixed-effects model. We report the multivariate model having both treatments as predictors, both unadjusted and adjusted, for the interaction between the treatments. Results: The UK trial started in 2022 after the pandemic lockdown, when 16 care home units were recruited and randomised, four per arm; 192 residents aged over 65 with depression and dementia participated. An ITT analysis of 146 participants retained at 6 months found neither intervention had a significant positive effect on any outcome. Significant unfavourable effects were found for RCS participants on MADRS, NPI symptom severity, and EQ-VAS. The combination of RCS + GMT had a detrimental effect on caregiver distress. Conclusions: MIDDEL UK findings do not support the use of GMT or RCS to alleviate depression in care home residents with dementia.

Depression involves a dysfunction in an affective fronto-limbic circuitry including the prefrontal cortices, several limbic structures including the cingulate cortex, the amygdala, and the hippocampus as well as the basal ganglia. A major emphasis of research on the etiology and treatment of mood disorders has been to assess the impact of centrally generated (top-down) processes impacting the affective fronto-limbic circuitry. The present review shows that peripheral (bottom-up) unipolar stimulation via the visual and the auditory modalities as well as by physical exercise modulates mood and depressive symptoms in humans and animals and activates the same central affective neurocircuitry involved in depression. It is proposed that the amygdala serves as a gateway by articulating the mood regulatory sensorimotor stimulation with the central affective circuitry by emotionally labeling and mediating the storage of such emotional events in long-term memory. Since both amelioration and aggravation of mood is shown to be possible by unipolar stimulation, the review suggests that a psychophysical assessment of mood modulation by multimodal stimulation may uncover mood ameliorative synergisms and serve as adjunctive treatment for depression. Thus, the integrative review not only emphasizes the relevance of investigating the optimal levels of mood regulatory sensorimotor stimulation, but also provides a conceptual springboard for related future research.

No abstract available

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is being increasingly viewed as a network-level pathology of the brain involving dysfunctional neural connections, neuroplasticity impairments, as well as a lack of executive control of emotional processes. In December 2024, the U.S. FDA approved the at-home transcranial direct current stimulation device (tDCS) 'Flow Neuroscience’s FL-100' for the treatment of moderate to severe depressive disorders in adults. The advent of this non-pharmacological approach represents a paradigmatic shift in circuit-level therapies for depression. In this paper, we investigate the neuropsychological basis of the FDA’s approval of the FL-100 device within a modern conceptualization of depression involving disruptions in the regulatory circuitry of the prefrontal and limbic systems of the brain. In addition, this study advances a theoretically well-grounded multi-modal approach to integrate transcranial stimulation using music-driven auditory stimulation as a primary state-dependent amplifier of the electromagnetic impacts of FL-100 stimulation of underlying emotional, reward, as well as executive neural networks of the brain, as supported by empirical evidence in cognitive neuroscience, affective neuropsychology, as well as research in non-invasive brain stimulation techniques.

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders, predicted to be the leading cause of disease burden by the next decade. There is great deal of emphasis on the central origin and potential therapeutics of depression whereby the symptomatology of depression has been interpreted and treated as brain generated dysfunctions filtering down to the periphery. This top‐down approach has found strong support from clinical work and basic neuroscientific research. Nevertheless, despite great advances in our knowledge of the aetiology and therapeutics of depression, success in treatment is still by no means assured. As a consequence, a wide net has been cast by both clinicians and researchers in search of more efficient therapies for mood disorders. As a complementary view, the present integrative review advocates approaching mood and depression from the opposite perspective: a bottom‐up view that starts from the periphery. Specifically, evidence is provided to show that sensory stimulation via the visual, auditory, olfactory, and gustatory systems can modulate depression. The review shows how—depending on several parameters—unisensory stimulation via these modalities can ameliorate or aggravate depressive symptoms. Moreover, the review emphasises the bidirectional relationship between sensory stimulation and depression. Just as peripheral stimulation can modulate depression, depression in turn affects—and in most cases impairs—sensory reception. Furthermore, the review suggests that combined use of multisensory stimulation may have synergistic ameliorative effects on depressive symptoms over and above what has so far been documented for unisensory stimulation.

No abstract available

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of music therapy on anxiety from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The following electronic databases were utilized for selecting eligible studies that were published from inception to March 2021: PubMed, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Medline, Web of Science, and Embase. Standard mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) values were used to evaluate the efficacy of music therapy on anxiety. Thirty-two studies with 1,924 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Music therapy lasted an average of 7.5 sessions (range, 1-24 sessions), while the average follow-up duration was 7.75 weeks (range, 1-16 weeks). Music therapy significantly reduced anxiety compared to the control group at post-intervention (SMD = -0.36, 95% CI: -0.54 to -0.17, p < 0.05), but not at follow-up (SMD = -0.23, 95% CI: -0.53 to 0.08, p >0.05). Subgroup analysis found a significantly positive effect of music therapy on anxiety in < 60 and ≥ 60 age-group (SMD = -0.31, 95% CI: -0.52 to -0.09, p < 0.05; SMD = -0.45, 95% CI: -0.85 to -0. 05, p < 0.05), developed and developing country group (SMD = -0.28, 95% CI: -0.51 to -0.06, p < 0.05; SMD = -0.49, 95% CI: -0.80 to -0.17, p < 0.05), < 12 and ≥ 12 sessions group (SMD = -0.24, 95% CI: = -0.44 to -0.03, p < 0.05; SMD = -0.59, 95% CI: -0.95 to -0.22, p < 0.05), respectively. Our study indicated that music therapy can significantly improve anxiety during treatment. But given that only eight RCTs reported the effects of music therapy at follow-up and the duration of follow-up was inconsistent, further researches are needed on the lasting effects after the intervention is discontinued.

Music therapy has previously been found to be effective in the treatment of depression but the studies have been methodologically insufficient and lacking in clarity about the clinical model employed. Aims To determine the efficacy of music therapy added to standard care compared with standard care only in the treatment of depression among working-age people. Participants (n = 79) with an ICD-10 diagnosis of depression were randomised to receive individual music therapy plus standard care (20 bi-weekly sessions) or standard care only, and followed up at baseline, at 3 months (after intervention) and at 6 months. Clinical measures included depression, anxiety, general functioning, quality of life and alexithymia. ISRCTN84185937. Participants receiving music therapy plus standard care showed greater improvement than those receiving standard care only in depression symptoms (mean difference 4.65, 95% CI 0.59 to 8.70), anxiety symptoms (1.82, 95% CI 0.09 to 3.55) and general functioning (-4.58, 95% CI -8.93 to -0.24) at 3-month follow-up. The response rate was significantly higher for the music therapy plus standard care group than for the standard care only group (odds ratio 2.96, 95% CI 1.01 to 9.02). Individual music therapy combined with standard care is effective for depression among working-age people with depression. The results of this study along with the previous research indicate that music therapy with its specific qualities is a valuable enhancement to established treatment practices.

Music therapy may facilitate skills in areas affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD), such as social interaction and communication. To evaluate effects of improvisational music therapy on generalized social communication skills of children with ASD. Assessor-blinded, randomized clinical trial, conducted in 9 countries and enrolling children aged 4 to 7 years with ASD. Children were recruited from November 2011 to November 2015, with follow-up between January 2012 and November 2016. Enhanced standard care (n = 182) vs enhanced standard care plus improvisational music therapy (n = 182), allocated in a 1:1 ratio. Enhanced standard care consisted of usual care as locally available plus parent counseling to discuss parents' concerns and provide information about ASD. In improvisational music therapy, trained music therapists sang or played music with each child, attuned and adapted to the child's focus of attention, to help children develop affect sharing and joint attention. The primary outcome was symptom severity over 5 months, based on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), social affect domain (range, 0-27; higher scores indicate greater severity; minimal clinically important difference, 1). Prespecified secondary outcomes included parent-rated social responsiveness. All outcomes were also assessed at 2 and 12 months. Among 364 participants randomized (mean age, 5.4 years; 83% boys), 314 (86%) completed the primary end point and 290 (80%) completed the last end point. Over 5 months, participants assigned to music therapy received a median of 19 music therapy, 3 parent counseling, and 36 other therapy sessions, compared with 3 parent counseling and 45 other therapy sessions for those assigned to enhanced standard care. From baseline to 5 months, mean ADOS social affect scores estimated by linear mixed-effects models decreased from 14.08 to 13.23 in the music therapy group and from 13.49 to 12.58 in the standard care group (mean difference, 0.06 [95% CI, -0.70 to 0.81]; P = .88), with no significant difference in improvement. Of 20 exploratory secondary outcomes, 17 showed no significant difference. Among children with autism spectrum disorder, improvisational music therapy, compared with enhanced standard care, resulted in no significant difference in symptom severity based on the ADOS social affect domain over 5 months. These findings do not support the use of improvisational music therapy for symptom reduction in children with autism spectrum disorder. isrctn.org Identifier: ISRCTN78923965.

Music therapy is based on the use of musical elements by a trained and qualified therapist. Clinical researches have suggested that children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) may benefit from MT. In this regard, this study examines if MT is more effective than simply listening to music for children with ASD. A 8-month RCT has been carried out comparing music therapy (MT) to music listening (ML) for children with ASD aged from 4 to 7 years old. Thirty-seven participants were randomly assigned to one of the two groups (MT vs. ML). The outcome measures were the Clinical Global Impression (CGI), the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) in each condition (MT and ML). CGI scores decreased more for participants in the MT than in the ML condition. This clinical improvement was associated with an improvement of autistic symptoms on lethargy and stereotypy ABC subscales. Our findings suggest that music therapy is more efficient than music listening for children with ASD. The present study thus supports the consideration of MT as a rightful add-on to ASD healthcare programs.

Music has been identified as a strength in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder; however, there is currently no neuroscientific evidence supporting its benefits. Given its universal appeal, intrinsic reward value and ability to modify brain and behaviour, music may be a potential therapeutic aid in autism. Here we evaluated the neurobehavioural outcomes of a music intervention, compared to a non-music control intervention, on social communication and brain connectivity in school-age children (ISRCTN26821793). Fifty-one children aged 6-12 years with autism were randomized to receive 8-12 weeks of music (n = 26) or non-music intervention (n = 25). The music intervention involved use of improvisational approaches through song and rhythm to target social communication. The non-music control was a structurally matched behavioural intervention implemented in a non-musical context. Groups were assessed before and after intervention on social communication and resting-state functional connectivity of fronto-temporal brain networks. Communication scores were higher in the music group post-intervention (difference score = 4.84, P = .01). Associated post-intervention resting-state brain functional connectivity was greater in music vs. non-music groups between auditory and subcortical regions (z = 3.94, P < .0001) and auditory and fronto-motor regions (z = 3.16, P < .0001). Post-intervention brain connectivity was lower between auditory and visual regions in the music compared to the non-music groups, known to be over-connected in autism (z = 4.01, P < .00001). Post-intervention brain connectivity in the music group was related to communication improvement (z = 3.57, P < .0001). This study provides the first evidence that 8-12 weeks of individual music intervention can indeed improve social communication and functional brain connectivity, lending support to further investigations of neurobiologically motivated models of music interventions in autism.

Behavioural and Psychiatric Symptoms in dementia (BPSD) tend to be a crucial and big problem in dementia. Anxiety several times remains under-diagnosed because it is often considered to be a psychological response to cognitive decline. As only the 10 % of patients were correctly treated, the pharmacological treatment should be well- considered. The aim of this study was to evaluate three non-pharmacological interventions for the treatment of anxiety in dementia. A cross-over randomised controlled trial with 60 participants (different types and stages of dementia) conducted in Greece. The sample was randomly assigned to 6 different groups of 10 participants each. The non-pharmacological interventions that have been evaluated are: a) Music Therapy b) Exercise and c) Aromatherapy & Massage. The measurements that were used are: MMSE, ACE-R, GDS, FRSSD and NPI questionnaire. The interventions lasted 5 days and there was two days off as a wash-out period. There was no drop-out rate. The study showed that the most effective intervention is Music therapy. The second most effective intervention is Exercise and the third one is Aromatherapy and Massage. In the parenthesis p results indicate that Music Therapy's p is less than 0.05 in comparison with Exercise and Aromatherapy and Massage and therefore the sequence of the interventions does not interfere with the results. (p = <0.05, p = 0.55, accordingly). Caregivers' burden also reduced with MT. In the parenthesis p results indicate Music Therapy's p is less than 0.05 in comparison with the two other interventions and therefore the sequence of the interventions does not interfere with the results, as well (p = <0.05, p = 0.19). Our results are in accordance with the current literature. Music Therapy is a promising alternative intervention for the treatment of anxiety in PwD. Music Therapy is an effective non-pharmacological treatment for the reduction of the caregivers' burden, because of the anxiety symptoms in PwD, such as lack of sleep, lack of personal time, unhealthy lifestyle, lack of solutions on what to do with their patients etc. The type of music, the duration of the intervention and the long-term benefits remain unclear. There is a big need of further research with stronger possible evaluation methods.

Management of delirium in intensive care units is challenging because effective therapies are lacking. Music is a promising nonpharmacological intervention. To determine the feasibility and acceptability of personalized music (PM), slow-tempo music (STM), and attention control (AC) in patients receiving mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit, and to estimate the effect of music on delirium. A randomized controlled trial was performed in an academic medical-surgical intensive care unit. After particular inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, patients were randomized to groups listening to PM, relaxing STM, or an audiobook (AC group). Sessions lasted 1 hour and were given twice daily for up to 7 days. Patients wore noise-canceling headphones and used mp3 players to listen to their music/audiobook. Delirium and delirium severity were assessed twice daily by using the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) and the CAM-ICU-7, respectively. Of the 1589 patients screened, 117 (7.4%) were eligible. Of those, 52 (44.4%) were randomized, with a recruitment rate of 5 patients per month. Adherence was higher in the groups listening to music (80% in the PM and STM groups vs 30% in the AC group; P = .01), and 80% of patients surveyed rated the music as enjoyable. The median number (interquartile range) of delirium/coma-free days by day 7 was 2 (1-6) for PM, 3 (1-6) for STM, and 2 (0-3) for AC (P = .32). Median delirium severity was 5.5 (1-7) for PM, 3.5 (0-7) for STM, and 4 (1-6.5) for AC (P = .78). Music delivery is acceptable to patients and is feasible in intensive care units. Further research testing use of this promising intervention to reduce delirium is warranted.

Psychological distress is a common consequence of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment and could further exacerbate therapy side effects. Interventions increasing treatment tolerance are crucial to improve both patients' quality of life and adherence to therapies. Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as an effective distraction tool for different medical procedures. Here, we assessed the efficacy of immersive and interactive VR in alleviating chemotherapy-related psychological distress in a cohort of Italian breast cancer patients, also comparing its effects with those of music therapy (MT). Thirty patients were included in the VR group, 30 in the MT group, and 34 in the control group, consisting of patients receiving standard care during chemotherapy. Our data suggest that both VR and MT are useful interventions for alleviating anxiety and for improving mood states in breast cancer patients during chemotherapy. Moreover, VR seems more effective than MT in relieving anxiety, depression, and fatigue.

Insomnia, a prevalent sleep disorder in contemporary society, frequently coexists with other mental health conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Sleep disorders can compromise daytime functioning and overall quality of life. While music has been explored as an adjunct therapy for insomnia, its efficacy in improving insomnia among students remains unclear. Seventy-five students, aged between 18 and 30 years with an average age of 20.97 years (SD: 1.92), presenting sleep issues were randomly allocated to one of three groups: the classical music group, the jazz music group, and the control group, each with 25 participants. Participants in the classical and jazz music group were instructed to listen to classical or jazz music for a minimum of 30 min preceding bedtime. This was paired with deep breathing and relaxation techniques, practiced two consecutive nights per week from 23:00 to 01:00 over a five-week intervention period. Conversely, participants in the control group were only directed to follow the deep breathing and relaxation techniques before sleep on two consecutive nights weekly. Insomnia severity with the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), depressive symptoms with the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI- II), and anxiety symptoms with the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). Measurements were taken at baseline, after the second week of intervention, at the intervention's conclusion (five weeks), and two months post-intervention (follow-up). 1. The music groups showed a significant difference in insomnia severity compared with the control group after five weeks of intervention(p < .05). 2. music groups exhibited significant enhancements in sleep quality relative to the control group after a five-week intervention (p < .05). 3. Regarding mood enhancement, music groups showed significant improvements in depression and anxiety symptoms compared to the baseline after the five-week intervention. Notably, the control group also displayed improvements in these symptoms post-intervention. 1. Integrating music into a consistent bedtime routine ameliorates sleep quality and insomnia severity. However, no specific genre of music emerged as the superior choice for pre-sleep listening. 2. While music can considerably enhance mood indicators like depression and anxiety, techniques such as deep breathing and mindfulness also contribute positively. 3. Incorporating music before sleep tangibly elevates overall quality of life and daytime functioning. ChiCTR2300073953.

Previous studies have suggested that music listening has the potential to positively affect cognitive functions and mood in individuals with post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI), with a preference for self-selected music likely to yield better outcomes. However, there is insufficient clinical evidence to suggest the use of music listening in routine rehabilitation care to treat PSCI. This randomized control trial (RCT) aims to investigate the effects of personalized music listening on mood improvement, activities of daily living (ADLs), and cognitive functions in individuals with PSCI. A total of 34 patients with PSCI were randomly assigned to either the music group or the control group. Patients in the music group underwent a three-month personalized music-listening intervention. The intervention involved listening to a personalized playlist tailored to each individual's cultural, ethnic, and social background, life experiences, and personal music preferences. In contrast, the control group patients listened to white noise as a placebo. Cognitive function, neurological function, mood, and ADLs were assessed. After three months of treatment, the music group showed significantly higher Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores compared to the control group (p=0.027), particularly in the domains of delayed recall (p=0.019) and orientation (p=0.023). Moreover, the music group demonstrated significantly better scores in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (p=0.008), Barthel Index (BI) (p=0.019), and Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (ZBI) (p=0.008) compared to the control group. No effects were found on mood as measured by the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD). Personalized music listening promotes the recovery of cognitive and neurological functions, improves ADLs, and reduces caregiver burden in patients with PSCI.

The allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a therapeutic medical treatment for various neoplastic hematologic, congenital, genetic, or acquired disorders. In this procedure which combines high-dose chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy and has a high degree of cytotoxicity, the patient experiences solitary confinement, which causes psychological distress, pain, anxiety, mood disorders and can lead him/her to depression. Music therapy was applied with the purpose of decreasing this social confinement. This is a randomized controlled trial. Patients (n = 100) were selected randomly. Patients (n = 50) were selected for the Experimental Music Therapy Group (EMG) and n = 50 for the control group (CG) who received the standard treatment. The intervention of live music was applied using music therapy techniques. Assessment and quantification were made using the visual analog scale (VAS). The dependent variables were pain, anxiety, and mood of patients. The Mann-Whitney test (p < 0.05) applied was considered statistically significant when comparing the groups, improving mood significantly (EMG). Music therapy proved to be a strong ally in the treatment of patients undergoing allo-HSCT, providing bio-psychosocial welfare.

Music therapy is a psychotherapeutic method that uses musical interaction as a means of communication and expression. The aim of the therapy is to help people with serious mental illness to develop relationships and to address issues they may not be able to using words alone. To review the effects of music therapy, or music therapy added to standard care, compared to placebo, standard care or no treatment for people with serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. The Cochrane Schizophrenia Group's Register (July 2002) was searched. This was supplemented by hand searching of music therapy journals, manual searches of reference lists, and contacting relevant authors. All randomised controlled trials that compared music therapy with standard care or other psychosocial interventions for schizophrenia. Studies were reliably selected, quality assessed and data extracted. Data were excluded where more than 30% of participants in any group were lost to follow up. Non-skewed continuous endpoint data from valid scales were synthesised using a standardised mean difference (SMD). If statistical heterogeneity was found, treatment 'dosage' and treatment approach were examined as possible sources of heterogeneity. Four studies were included. These examined the effects of music therapy over the short to medium term (1 to 3 months), with treatment 'dosage' varying from 7 to 78 sessions. Music therapy added to standard care was superior to standard care alone for global state (medium term, 1 RCT, n = 72, RR 0.10 CI 0.03 to 0.31, NNT 2 CI 1.2 to 2.2). Continuous data suggested some positive effects on general mental state (1 RCT, n=69, SMD average endpoint PANSS -0.36 CI -0.85 to 0.12; 1 RCT, n=70, SMD average endpoint BPRS -1.25 CI -1.77 to -0.73),on negative symptoms (3 RCTs, n=180, SMD average endpoint SANS -0.86 CI -1.17 to -0.55) and social functioning (1 RCT, n=70, SMD average endpoint SDSI score -0.78 CI -1.27 to -0.28). However these latter effects were inconsistent across studies and depended on the number of music therapy sessions. All results were for the 1-3 month follow up. Music therapy as an addition to standard care helps people with schizophrenia to improve their global state and may also improve mental state and functioning if a sufficient number of music therapy sessions are provided. Further research should address the dose-effect relationship and the long-term effects of music therapy.

Work attention in employees with schizophrenia is a significant issue in vocational rehabilitation. Background music is very popular in workplaces, and according to some investigations, can help increase attention at work if utilized appropriately. This study investigates the influence of background music tempo on attention performance in employees with chronic schizophrenia. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) study was performed to test the attention of 240 participants with chronic schizophrenia under four conditions, namely no music, fast tempo, slow tempo and white noise. Employees with schizophrenia achieved higher attention scores under background music than in a no-music environment. Additionally, slow-tempo music produced higher attention scores than fast-tempo music. Observational results indicate that slow-tempo background music is more desirable than fast-tempo background music in a work environment involving schizophrenic individuals.

Decoding affective meaning from sensory information is central to accurate and adaptive behavior in many natural and social contexts. Human vocalizations (speech and non-speech), environmental sounds (e.g. thunder, noise, or animal sounds) and human-produced sounds (e.g. technical sounds or music) can carry a wealth of important aversive, threatening, appealing, or pleasurable affective information that sometimes implicitly influences and guides our behavior. A deficit in processing such affective information is detrimental to adaptive environmental behavior, psychological well-being, and social interactive abilities. These deficits can originate from a diversity of psychiatric and neurological disorders, and are associated with neural dysfunctions across largely distributed brain networks. Recent neuroimaging studies in psychiatric and neurological patients outline the cortical and subcortical neurocircuitry of the complimentary and differential functional roles for affective sound processing. This points to and confirms a recently proposed distributed network rather than a single brain region underlying affective sound processing, and highlights the notion of a multi-functional process that can be differentially impaired in clinical disorders.

Auditory and somesthesic forms of stimulation have substantially increased rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in cats. We investigated whether auditory stimulation, applied during REM sleep or outside REM sleep, would have similar effects in normal volunteers. We also administered auditory stimulation to depressed patients during REM sleep. Subjects were studied during 1 acclimatization night, 2 baseline nights, 4 consecutive nights with auditory stimulation, and 1 followup night without auditory stimulation. Normal volunteers were randomly divided into Group R, which received auditory stimulation during each REM sleep episode, and Group NR, which received auditory stimulation at the end of each REM sleep episode. Depressed patients (Group D) received auditory stimulation during each REM sleep period. Only Group R showed increased REM sleep time during the nights of auditory stimulation and throughout the followup night. This group also increased their sleep efficiency. Group NR showed reduced sleep efficiency due to an increase in both the duration and frequency of awakenings. Group D did not show increased REM sleep time, but did show shortened REM sleep episodes, increased REM sleep frequency, and increased duration of awakenings. Group D did not show clinical changes.