Feasibility of Home-based Neurologic Music Therapy for Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia: A Pilot Study

Journal

Journal of Music Therapy

Year

2019

Abstract

Family caregivers often feel ill-equipped to handle bothersome behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, such as agitation, apathy, and sleep disturbances, leading to increased caregiver distress and nursing home placement for people with dementia. Therapies for such symptoms are currently limited and non-pharmacological options are preferred, given potential side effects of medications. Neurologic music therapy (NMT) could provide an additional treatment option for managing behavioral and psychological symptoms for community-dwelling people with dementia and their caregivers. This pilot study sought to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of home-based NMT for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Eighteen persons with dementia-caregiver dyads were enrolled to receive one-hour weekly sessions of home-based NMT for 6 weeks. Demographic, quality of life, neuropsychiatric symptom, and caregiver burden and self-efficacy information was collected at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Seven dyads (38.9%) withdrew from therapy before completing all sessions; these participants had higher Neuropsychiatric Inventory scores and were of older age at baseline. For those who completed therapy, neuropsychiatric symptom scores improved at 6 weeks, an effect that was sustained at 12 weeks. No other outcome measures changed significantly after therapy. Initiating NMT too late in the course of dementia, when behavioral symptoms are already present, may be impractical for people with dementia and increase caregiver stress, even when provided within the home. Introducing and incorporating the principles of NMT earlier in the course of dementia could allow for increased comfort and benefit for people with dementia and their caregivers.

Music and Health Institute Terms

Agitation; Alzheimer's and Related Dementias; Burnout; Caregivers; Mental Health; Music Therapy; Neurodegenerative Disorders; Psychological Outcomes; Quality of Life; Self-Concept; Sleep Wake Disorders

Indexed Terms

Adaptation, Psychological; Elderly; Elderly; Anxiety; Behavioral Symptoms; Caregivers; Dementia; Feasibility Studies; Pilot Projects; Quality of Life; Self Efficacy; Sleep Wake Disorders; behavioral symptoms; caregiver burden; dementia; non-pharmacological treatment; quality of life

Study Type

Quasi-Experimental Study; Quantitative Methods

PubMed ID

31346625

Document Type

Article

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