Effectiveness of Group Music Therapy Versus Recreational Group Singing for Depressive Symptoms of Elderly Nursing Home Residents: Pragmatic Trial

Journal

Aging & Mental Health

Year

2017

Volume

21

Issue

2

First Page

147

Last Page

155

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Several studies have suggested positive effects of music therapy in dementia, but research on age-related depression has been limited and of insufficient quality. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of interactive group music therapy versus recreational group singing on depressive symptoms in elderly nursing home residents. METHOD: Residents of two German nursing homes with sufficient length of stay who were not bedridden were invited to participate in a pragmatic trial. A total of 117 participants, grouped into four clusters (based on their wards), were randomised to interactive group music therapy (n = 62; 20 units of 40 minutes, 2×/week) or recreational group singing (n = 55; 10 units of 90 minutes, 1×/week). The level of depressive symptoms was assessed using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale at baseline (47% with at least mild depression) and follow-up in the 6th and 12th weeks. There was no blinding of assessors. RESULTS: The level of depressive symptoms improved significantly more in those assigned to music therapy (n = 60) than in recreational singing (n = 53), both in 6th week (mean difference 3.0 scores, 95% CI 1.21 to 4.79, p = 0.001) and 12th week (mean difference 4.50 scores, 95% CI 2.51 to 6.50, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that music therapy decreases depressive symptoms in elderly people in nursing homes more effectively than recreational singing.

Music and Health Institute Terms

Community Music Experience; Depression; Depressive Disorder; Elderly; Mental Health; Mood Disorders; Mood Scales; Music Listening; Music Medicine; Nursing Home; Psychological Outcomes; Recorded Music Listening; Recreative Music Methods; Self-Report Measures; Singing a Song

Indexed Terms

Elderly; Elderly; Cluster Analysis; Dementia; Depression; Geriatric Assessment; Homes for the Aged; Nursing Homes; Recreation Therapy; Singing; depression; effectiveness; elderly care; pragmatic trial

Study Type

Quantitative Methods; Randomized Controlled Trial

Disciplines

Psychiatric and Mental Health

PubMed ID

26457893

Document Type

Article

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