The efficacy of music therapy for post-stroke depression: A meta-analysis

Journal

Medicine

Year

2025

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Music can stimulate the central nervous system and may exert calming, analgesic, and negative emotion-reducing effects. It has been applied in the treatment of various psychological disorders, including post-stroke depression (PSD). This study systematically assesses the efficacy of music therapy in improving depressive symptoms in patients with PSD. METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted in 9 databases including Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang, covering all publications up to January 7, 2024. Two researchers independently screened articles on music therapy interventions for PSD. Quality assessment and meta-analysis were performed using RevMan 5.3. RESULTS: A total of 37 randomized controlled trials with 2776 patients were included in the study. Meta-analysis showed that music was effective in improving Hamilton depression scale scores (mean differences [MD] = -4.76, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -6.11 to -3.40, P < .00001), Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale scores (MD = -5.25, 95% CI: -6.20 to -4.30, P < .00001), Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale scores (MD = -7.34, 95% CI: -8.71 to -5.97, P < .00001), Barthel index (MD = 13.59, 95% CI: 6.83-20.35, P < .00001, activities of daily living scores (MD = 13.09, 95% CI: 4.12-22.05, P < .00001), neurological deficit score (standardized mean difference = -1.62, 95% CI: -1.88 to -1.35, P < .00001), 5-hydroxytryptamine (MD = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.56-1.16, P < .00001) in PSD patients compared to the conventional rehabilitation group. CONCLUSION: Music therapy has demonstrated significant clinical efficacy in improving depressive symptoms, daily living skills, the degree of neurological deficits, and serum 5-hydroxytryptamine levels in individuals with PSD.

Music and Health Institute Terms

Stroke; Mood Disorders; Depression; Psychological Outcomes; Psychiatric Symptoms; Emotional Functioning; Music Therapy; Recovery Time; Subjective Measures; Medication Use; Anti-Depressant Medication Intake

Indexed Terms

5-HT; Depression; HAMD; meta-analysis; post-stroke depression; PSD; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Stroke

Study Type

Randomized Controlled Trial; Quantitative Methods

PubMed ID

PMID: 41137304 PMCID: PMC12558283

Document Type

Article

More Info

Share

COinS