The effect of music therapy on reducing depression in people with dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Music-based interventions for anxiety and depression in older adults with dementia: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this systematic review was to synthesize evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding the efficacy of music-based interventions (MBIs) in improving anxiety and depression in older adults with dementia.

METHODS

Relevant RCTs were identified through searches in electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, EBSCOhost, Scopus, Web of Science, APA PsycINFO, and Google. The Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2) was used to evaluate the risk of bias in the included trials. A narrative synthesis of the included trials was conducted.

RESULTS

Nine RCTs involving 496 patients met the inclusion criteria; five trials evaluated the efficacy of MBIs for anxiety, and six trials evaluated their efficacy for depression in older adults with dementia. Of the nine trials, two reported significant improvements in anxiety in older adults with dementia following MBIs (Cohen's d = -1.71 to -2.48), while one trial reported significant improvements in depression (Cohen's d = -0.66).

CONCLUSIONS

Only a few trials support the efficacy of MBIs in alleviating negative emotions in older adults with dementia, as evidenced by three out of the nine trials. However, due to the small sample sizes and heterogeneity in dementia types, stages, and interventions, quantitative results were not pooled, making it challenging to draw reliable conclusions. Further validation and examination of the findings presented in this study are warranted to strengthen the evidence base for integrating MBIs into dementia care and treatment protocols.

Effects of group music therapy on depressive symptoms in women - The MUSED-study: Results from a randomized-controlled trial

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.

Music-based therapeutic interventions for people with dementia

BACKGROUND

Dementia is a clinical syndrome with a number of different causes. It is characterised by deterioration in cognitive, behavioural, social and emotional functioning. Pharmacological interventions are available but have limited effect on many of the syndrome's features. However, receptivity to music may remain until the late phases of dementia, and music-based therapeutic interventions (which include, but are not limited to, music therapy) are suitable for people with advanced dementia. As there is uncertainty about the effectiveness of music-based therapeutic interventions, trials are being conducted to evaluate this. This review updates one last published in 2018 and examines the current evidence for the effects of music-based interventions for people with dementia.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of music-based therapeutic interventions for people with dementia on emotional well-being (including quality of life), mood disturbance or negative affect (i.e. depressive symptoms and anxiety), behavioural problems (i.e. overall behavioural problems or neuropsychiatric symptoms, and more specifically agitation or aggression), social behaviour and cognition, at the end of therapy and four or more weeks after the end of treatment, and to assess any adverse effects.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group's Specialised Register, MEDLINE (Ovid SP), Embase (Ovid SP), PsycINFO (Ovid SP), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Web of Science Core Collection (ISI Web of Science), LILACS (BIREME), ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organisation's meta-register-the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform on 30 November 2023.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials of music-based therapeutic interventions (of at least five sessions) for people with dementia that measured any of our outcomes of interest. Control groups either received usual care or other activities with or without music.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors worked independently to screen the retrieved studies against the inclusion criteria and then to extract data from included studies and assess their risk of bias. If necessary, we contacted trial authors to ask for additional data, such as relevant subscales. We pooled data using the random-effects model. We assessed the certainty of the evidence for our two comparisons and our main outcomes of interest using GRADE.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 30 studies with 1720 randomised participants that were conducted in 15 countries. Twenty-eight studies with 1366 participants contributed data to meta-analyses. Ten studies contributed data to long-term outcomes. Participants had dementia of varying degrees of severity and resided in institutions in most of the studies. Seven studies delivered an individual intervention; the other studies delivered the intervention to groups. Most interventions involved both active and receptive elements of musical experience. The studies were at high risk of performance bias and some were at high risk of detection or other bias. For music-based therapeutic interventions compared to usual care, we found moderate-certainty evidence that, at the end of treatment, music-based therapeutic interventions probably improved depressive symptoms slightly (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.42 to -0.04; 9 studies, 441 participants), and we found low-certainty evidence that it may have improved overall behavioural problems (SMD -0.31, 95% CI -0.60 to -0.02; 10 studies, 385 participants). We found moderate-certainty evidence that music-based therapeutic interventions likely did not improve agitation or aggression (SMD -0.05, 95% CI -0.27 to 0.17; 11 studies, 503 participants). Low to very low certainty evidence showed that they did not improve emotional well-being (SMD 0.14, 95% CI -0.29 to 0.56; 4 studies, 154 participants), anxiety (SMD -0.15, 95% CI -0.39 to 0.09; 7 studies, 282 participants), social behaviour (SMD 0.22, 95% CI -0.14 to 0.57; 2 studies; 121 participants) or cognition (SMD 0.19, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.41; 7 studies, 353 participants). Low or very-low -certainty evidence showed that music-based therapeutic interventions may not have been more effective than usual care in the long term (four weeks or more after the end of treatment) for any of the outcomes. For music-based therapeutic interventions compared to other interventions, we found low-certainty evidence that, at the end of treatment, music-based therapeutic interventions may have been more effective than the other activities for social behaviour (SMD 0.52, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.96; 4 studies, 84 participants). We found very low-certainty evidence of a positive effect on anxiety (SMD -0.75, 95% CI -1.27 to -0.24; 10 studies, 291 participants). For all other outcomes, low-certainty evidence showed no evidence of an effect: emotional well-being (SMD 0.20, 95% CI -0.09 to 0.49; 9 studies, 298 participants); depressive symptoms (SMD -0.14, 95% CI -0.36 to 0.08; 10 studies, 359 participants); agitation or aggression (SMD 0.01, 95% CI -0.31 to 0.32; 6 studies, 168 participants); overall behavioural problems (SMD -0.08, 95% CI -0.33 to 0.17; 8 studies, 292 participants) and cognition (SMD 0.12, 95% CI -0.21 to 0.45; 5 studies; 147 participants). We found low or very-low certainty evidence that music-based therapeutic interventions may not have been more effective than other interventions in the long term (four weeks or more after the end of treatment) for any of the outcomes. Adverse effects were inconsistently measured or recorded, but no serious adverse events were reported.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

When compared to usual care, providing people with dementia with at least five sessions of a music-based therapeutic intervention probably improves depressive symptoms and may improve overall behavioural problems at the end of treatment. When compared to other activities, music-based therapeutic interventions may improve social behaviour at the end of treatment. No conclusions can be reached about the outcome of anxiety as the certainty of the evidence is very low. There may be no effects on other outcomes at the end of treatment. There was no evidence of long-term effects from music-based therapeutic interventions. Adverse effects may be rare, but the studies were inconsistent in their reporting of adverse effects. Future studies should examine the duration of effects in relation to the overall duration of treatment and the number of sessions.

The Impact of Piano Game-Based Learning on the Mental Health of Elderly Individuals

ABSTRACT

The main research purpose was to investigate the impact of piano courses on the mental health of the elderly. The sample consisted of 30 individuals. The age range of the participants was from 60 to 70 years. For 6 months, the respondents had piano lessons two times a week. One lesson lasted 2 hours and included the development of playing skills and improvisation techniques. The results confirmed the validity of the proposed learning strategy. The Taylor anxiety scale decreased by 19 points. These results showed a decrease of more than half of its original value. The Beck test for depression decreased by 21.5 points. The result shows a decrease two times. The test on the emotional background (the WAM questionnaire) shows an improvement in Well-Being by 3.3 points. In the group of respondents, Activity increased by 3.3 points, and the Mood factor increased by 3.5 points. The direction of further research should be related to the study of the impact of musical practices on various components of the clinical picture of depression and negative emotional states. The results can find practical implementation in the practice of psychotherapeutic work in reducing anxiety and eliminating depression in the elderly in clinics, hospitals, and other medical institutions.

Evidence for music therapy and music medicine in psychiatry: transdiagnostic meta-review of meta-analyses

BACKGROUND

Music therapy is a commonly used intervention added to usual care for psychiatric disorders.

AIMS

We review the evidence for music therapy and assess its efficacy as an adjunct therapy across psychiatric disorders.

METHOD

A systematic literature search was conducted in four scientific databases to identify relevant meta-analyses. Articles were assessed with the AMSTAR-2 tool. The results of the high-quality articles were recalculated with the data from the primary studies. We decided to add the results of the lower-rated articles, using a narrative approach. We pooled the primary studies and calculated standardised mean differences (SMD) for the transdiagnostic outcomes of depression, anxiety and quality of life. We used the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) tool to assess the level of evidence.

RESULTS

Meta-analyses were available for autism, dementia, depression, insomnia, schizophrenia and substance use disorders. We identified 40 relevant articles. One article per domain was identified as high quality. Music therapy added to treatment as usual showed therapeutic value in each disorder. The transdiagnostic results showed a positive effect of music therapy on depression (SMD = 0.57, 95% CI 0.36-0.78), anxiety (SMD = 0.47, 95% CI 0.27-0.66) and quality of life (SMD = 0.47, 95% CI 0.24-0.71). However, these effects were not maintained at follow-up, and all results were based on low or very low evidence.

CONCLUSIONS

Music therapy shows promising potential as an adjunctive treatment for psychiatric disorders, but methodological weaknesses and variability limit the evidence. More high-quality, well-powered studies are needed to reliably confirm its effect size.

Effectiveness of the Music Therapy in Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

INTRODUCTION

Studies have comprehensively examined key variables in music therapy (MT) interventions such as exposure time, session length, and frequency, particularly in relation to patients with dementia. This study investigated the effects of MT on cognitive function, depression, anxiety, behavior, and quality of life in individuals with dementia.

METHODS

Relevant articles published before April 23, 2023, were sourced from five databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effects of MT and standard care on the cognitive function, depression levels, anxiety levels, behaviors, and quality of life of individuals with dementia were included. The Reviewers independently extracted data and assessed the studies' methodological quality. Heterogeneity was quantified using Q statistics from χ2 tests and I2 statistics. Outcome analysis was conducted using a random-effects model, and the standardized mean difference, mean difference, and 95% confidence interval were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 24 RCTs were included. Compared with the control group, patients who received MT had higher cognitive function, lower levels of depression, and lower levels of anxiety. Meta-regression analysis revealed that the total MT period, total number of MT sessions, weekly MT frequency, MT exposure time, and length of each MT session were associated with an improvement in cognitive function. However, no significant difference was observed in behaviors or quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

MT yielded improved cognitive function in individuals with dementia if the intervention spans at least 12 weeks, has at least 16 sessions, and has at least 8 h of therapy.

Symptom-specific non-pharmacological interventions for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia: An umbrella review

BACKGROUND

Non-pharmacological interventions are considered the first-line treatment for managing the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Given the heterogeneous characteristics of these symptoms, which vary for each individual and tend to fluctuate, a symptom-specific approach is necessary for providing individualized non-pharmacological interventions for people with dementia. However, clear guidelines regarding the appropriate types of interventions for individual symptoms or clusters of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia are lacking.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this umbrella review was to summarize the current evidence on non-pharmacological interventions for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and provide guidance for determining the appropriate types of interventions for each behavioral and psychological symptom of dementia.

DESIGN

An umbrella review of systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses.

METHODS

The Cochrane methodology for umbrella reviews was employed for this review, and the review protocol was registered. PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, and Cochrane databases were searched for relevant reviews using the 'population, intervention, control, and outcomes' formulation. Two reviewers independently screened the extracted articles for eligibility. The quality of each selected review was independently assessed by the two reviewers using A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2. The results were narratively synthesized and categorized according to each symptom.

RESULTS

Thirty-five systematic reviews, 71 % of which were also meta-analyses, were included in this review. The methodologies employed in the included reviews were significantly heterogeneous. The qualities of the reviews ranged from low to moderate. Diverse types of non-pharmacological interventions were identified in the reviews, with music therapy being the most frequently discussed. Among the various symptoms, depression was most frequently addressed, followed by overall symptoms, agitation, anxiety, sleep problems, and apathy. Music therapy was found to be effective for improving both overall and specific symptoms, including depression and anxiety. Notably, relatively weak evidence supports the effectiveness of exercise in addressing each symptom. Aromatherapy could be considered for agitation, whereas reminiscence may be effective in managing overall and specific symptoms, such as depression.

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed that the evidence of symptom-specific effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions varied across the different behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, highlighting the need for a symptom-specific approach in future research. Furthermore, future research is needed to facilitate the development of symptom-specific guidelines that can enhance the quality of individualized dementia care.

REGISTRATION

Registered with PROSPERO (number: CRD42022340930) on November 9, 2022.

A meta-review of systematic reviews on the effectiveness of music therapy on depression, stress, anxiety and cognitive function in adult's with dementia or cognitive impairment

BACKGROUND

Subjective cognitive impairment has been reported to be associated with depressive symptoms, stress and anxiety in older people. This study examines the impact of music interventions on cognitive functioning, depression, anxiety, and stress for adults with dementia or cognitive impairment.

METHOD

We searched Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, Medline, and PsycINFO without restriction to date. Systematic reviews with or without meta-analysis of music interventions were included. Effect sizes were estimated using standardized mean difference (SMD), weighted mean difference (WMD), mean difference (MD), and Hedges g, as reported. Effect sizes were reported as 〈 0.1 = small effect to 〉 0.5 as large effect.

RESULTS

Twenty systematic reviews were included. There is evidence that music interventions can have effects on cognitive abilities compared to standard care, with a small to large decrease in anxiety.

CONCLUSION

Music interventions might have variable effects on improved cognitive functioning, depression, anxiety and stress.

How does group music therapy help in combating the anxiety and depression of dementia patients? A quasi-experimental investigation

This study looked at the effect of group music therapy on dementia patients' levels of feelings of depression and anxiety. Quasi-experiment was carried out (N = 121) in which patients were randomly divided into a control (N = 61) and an experimental group (N = 60). Following a six-weeks, twelve-sessions trial involving both passive and active music therapy, it was discovered that the music group therapy intervention decreased the anxiety and depression levels of dementia patients in the experimental group as compared to the control group, which did not receive any music therapy. It was also noted that after three months of follow-up, participants in the experimental group still maintained a low level of anxiety and depression, but the control group's level remained high, therefore, substantiating the effect of music in lowering anxiety and depression among older ones. We urge the nursing descipline, medical professionals, carers, and care homes to include music therapy in the care they provide for patients with dementia.

Comparative efficacy of multiple non-pharmacological interventions for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia: A network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Non-pharmacological interventions can improve the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). However, the optimal non-pharmacological treatments remain controversial. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of multiple non-pharmacological methods and identify the optimal therapy for BPSD. Potential randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were searched and selected from 15 databases and sources from the inception of the databases until 1 October 2022. Two independent authors implemented study screening, data extraction, and methodological quality assessment. Primary outcome was reduction of Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). The secondary outcome were changes of Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD), the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI), the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease (QoL-AD), the Abilities of Daily Living scale, and the Apathy Evaluation Scale. Meta-analyses were performed using STATA v15.0 and ADDIS v1.16.8. The GRADE approaches were utilised to evaluate evidence quality. The present study included 43 RCTs with 4978 participants. The global methodological quality of the RCTs was moderate. Regarding NPI reduction, with moderate-certainty evidence, exercise plus treatment as usual (TAU) outperformed TAU (mean difference [MD]: -7.13; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -13.22, -0.76) and ranked as the optimal treatment. For reduction in CSDD, with low- to moderate-certainty evidence, massage plus TAU (MD: -15.26; 95% CI: -20.13, -10.52) and music plus TAU (MD: -2.40; 95% CI: -4.62, -0.12) were associated with greater reduction compared with TAU. For reduction in CMAI, with moderate-certainty evidence, aromatherapy plus massage (MD: -15.84; 95% CI: -29.76, -2.42) and massage plus music (MD: -13.12; 95% CI: -25.43, -0.76) were significantly more effective than TAU. For improvement in QoL-AD, with critically low- to low-certainty evidence, there were no statistical differences between any of non-pharmacological treatments and TAU. Due to the limited number of included studies, network meta-analysis was not performed for other outcomes. In conclusion, non-pharmacological treatments are effective for overall symptoms, depression, and agitation. Exercise plus treatment as usual may be an optimal non-pharmacological intervention for improving the overall BPSD. This may help to guide patients, doctors, and policymakers.

The impact of group music therapy in ameliorating the depression among patients with dementia in care homes: A randomized control trial

Despite the increasing use of music therapy to treat patients with dementia, studies focused on developing nations are still in their embryonic stages. In this view, this study examined the impact of group music therapy intervention in ameliorating depression levels among older people in two care homes. A randomized control trial (RCT) was carried out in which a total of 121 patients were randomly divided into control 61 and experimental group 60. After 6 weeks, 12-session experiment which involved passive and active music therapy, it was found that music group therapy intervention reduced the depression level of older persons in the experimental group, compared to those who were not exposed to the music therapy; control group. The music therapy session also influenced the salivary cortisol of the patients as it was shown to reduce their salivary cortisol levels. It was also observed that after three months of follow-up, participants in the experimental group still maintained a low level of depression and salivary cortisol level, but the control group's level was still high, thus, substantiating the effect of music in reducing depression among older people. We encouraged clinicians, nursing practitioners and care homes in Nigeria to incorporate music therapy as part of the treatment offered to patients with dementia.

Effects of a music therapy and music listening intervention for nursing home residents with dementia: a randomized controlled trial

Introduction

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of an individual music therapy intervention and an individual music listening intervention on neuropsychiatric symptoms and quality of life in people with dementia living in a nursing home and on professional caregiver's burden to be able to make statements about their specific value of application in clinical practice.

Methods

A multicenter single blind randomized controlled trial with three groups was performed: an individual music therapy intervention (IMTI) group (n = 49), an individual music listening intervention (IMLI) group (n = 56) and a control group (n = 53) receiving usual care. The interventions were given during three weeks, three times a week on non-consecutive days during 30-45 minutes for in total nine sessions. The endpoint of the study is the difference from baseline to interim (1,5 week), post-intervention (3 weeks) and follow-up (6 weeks) in reported scores of problem behaviour (NPI-NH) and quality of life (Qualidem) in people with dementia and occupational disruptiveness (NPI-NH) in care professionals.

Results

In total 158 people with dementia were randomized to one of the two intervention groups or the control group. Multilevel analyses demonstrated that hyperactive behaviour assessed by the NPI-NH was significantly more reduced for the IMLI group at follow up and that restless behaviour assessed by the Qualidem was significantly more reduced for the IMTI group at post and follow-up measurement compared to the control group. No significant effects between groups were found in other NPI-NH clusters or Qualidem subscales.

Conclusion

In conclusion, because we found no convincing evidence that the IMTI or IMLI is more effective than the other both interventions should be considered in clinical practice. For the future, we advise further research into the sustainability of the effects with alternative designs, like a single case experimental design.

The Effects of Music-Based Auditory Training on Hearing-Impaired Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment

OBJECTIVES

The present study aimed to determine the effect of music-based auditory training on older adults with hearing loss and decreased cognitive ability, which are common conditions in the older population.

METHODS

In total, 20 older adults diagnosed with both mild-to-moderately severe hearing loss and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) participated. Half of this group were randomly assigned to the auditory training group (ATG), and the other half were designated as the control group (CG). For the ATG, a 40-minute training session (10 minutes for singing a song, 15 minutes for playing instruments, and 15 minutes for playing games with music discrimination) was conducted twice a week for 8 weeks (for a total of 16 sessions). To confirm the training effects, all participants were given tests pre- and post-training, and then a follow-up test was administered 2 weeks after the training, using various auditory and cognitive tests and a self-reporting questionnaire.

RESULTS

The ATG demonstrated significant improvement in all auditory test scores compared to the CG. Additionally, there was a notable enhancement in cognitive test scores post-training, except for the digit span tests. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the questionnaire scores between the two groups, although the ATG did score higher post-training.

CONCLUSION

The music-based auditory training resulted in a significant improvement in auditory function and a partial enhancement in cognitive ability among elderly patients with hearing loss and MCI. We anticipate that this music-based approach will be adopted for auditory training in clinical settings due to its engaging and easy-to-follow nature.

Evaluating the Impact of Virtual Reality on the Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia and Quality of Life of Inpatients With Dementia in Acute Care: Randomized Controlled Trial (VRCT)

BACKGROUND

Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly considered a valuable therapeutic tool for people with dementia. However, rigorous studies are still needed to evaluate its impact on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSDs) and quality of life (QoL) across care settings.

OBJECTIVE

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of VR therapy on managing BPSDs, falls, length of stay, and QoL in inpatients with dementia admitted to an acute care hospital. The secondary aim was to evaluate the intervention's feasibility in terms of acceptability, safety, and patient experience.

METHODS

A prospective, open-label, mixed methods, randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted between April 2019 and March 2020. A total of 69 participants (aged ≥65 years with a diagnosis of dementia and who did not meet the exclusion criteria) were randomly assigned to either the control (n=35, 51%) or VR (n=34, 49%) arm. Participants in the experimental (VR) arm were visited by a researcher and watched 360° VR films on a head-mounted display for up to 20 minutes every 1 to 3 days, whereas individuals in the control arm received standard of care. Instances of daily BPSDs and falls were collected from nurses' daily notes. QoL was measured through semistructured interviews and the Quality of Life in Late-Stage Dementia scale. Structured observations and semistructured interviews were used to measure treatment feasibility. The primary outcomes were analyzed at a 95% significance level based on the intention-to-treat method.

RESULTS

VR therapy had a statistically significant effect on reducing aggressiveness (ie, physical aggression and loud vociferation; P=.01). Substantial impact of VR therapy was not found for other BPSDs (eg, apathy), falls, length of stay, or QoL as measured using the Quality of Life in Late-Stage Dementia scale. The average VR therapy session lasted 6.8 (SD 6.6; range 0-20) minutes, and the intervention was overall an acceptable and enjoyable experience for participants. No adverse events occurred as a result of VR therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Immersive VR therapy appears to have an effect on aggressive behaviors in patients with dementia in acute care. Although the randomized controlled trial was stopped before reaching the intended sample size owing to COVID-19 restrictions, trends in the results are promising. We suggest conducting future trials with larger samples and, in some cases, more sensitive data collection instruments.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03941119; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03941119.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

RR2-10.2196/22406.

A randomized control trial establishing the effectiveness of using interactive television-based art, music, and poetry therapies for treating the post-traumatic stress disorder of children exposed to traumatic events

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of interactive television-based music, art, and poetry therapies in reducing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder among school children who have experienced abduction. A randomized control trial was adopted using school children from three selected secondary schools in Northern Nigeria that have experienced the issue of kidnapping. The treatment is characterized by (1) group setting, (2) TV instruction (3) school collaboration, and (4) use of artistic mediation. The study sample comprised 470 students randomly divided into a control group of 235 and an experiment group of 235. The treatment group was further divided into art (N = 78), music (N = 78) and poetry (N = 79), respectively. Results suggest that interactive television art, music and poetry therapies are an effective intervention strategy for reducing the PTSD of school children who have experienced kidnapping in Nigeria. However, art therapy is more effective in reducing PTSD. This study has offered empirical evidence that could guide the planning and implementation of therapies aimed at assisting school children to recover from traumatic experiences.

Effect of music therapy on older adults with depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Depression is becoming more prevalent in older adults. Music therapy appears to have a positive effect on older adults with depression, but the effects of specific interventions (such as active music therapy and passive music therapy) are not fully known. This review aims to evaluate the therapeutic effects of music therapy and the effects of specific interventions on older adults with depression.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted from inception to June 2022, and an updated search was conducted in July 2023 on PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, VIP, Wanfang Data, CNKI, and CBM. This review solely targeted randomized controlled trials. Two reviewers independently reviewed the retrieved studies. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool 2.0, and statistical analysis was made using the RevMan 5.4 software.

RESULTS

Twenty-one studies with a total of 1777 participants were included. Music therapy was beneficial in reducing depression, anxiety, and blood pressure and increasing cognitive ability (p < 0.05). Subgroup analysis showed that passive music therapy, single intervention for 60 min, individual intervention format, and total duration of 20 h had a more significant effect on depressive symptoms in older adults.

CONCLUSION

Music therapy reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety, improves blood pressure, and enhances cognitive ability in older adults with depression. Further rigorously designed studies are warranted to confirm the effects of music therapy on older adults with depression.

Does music intervention relieve depression or anxiety in people living with dementia? A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to summarize the available evidence on music intervention alleviating depression or anxiety in dementia.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was performed to analyze the effects of music intervention on depression or anxiety. Subgroups were created to explore the effect of intervention period, duration, and frequency on efficacy. The effect size was reported as a mean standardized difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS

The analysis included 19 articles involving 614 samples. Thirteen studies for relieving depression revealed that, with an increase in intervention period, the efficacy decreased and then increased, whereas with an increase of intervention duration, the effect became better. A weekly intervention is ideal. Seven studies verifying the impact on anxiety relief revealed that the effect of intervention within 12 wk is significant; with an increase of intervention duration, the effect became better. A weekly intervention is ideal. Collaborative analysis showed that long low-frequency interventions are more efficient than short high-frequency interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

Music intervention can relieve depression or anxiety in people living with dementia. Weekly short interventions of more than 45 min are effective for emotional regulation. Future research should concentrate on severe dementia and follow-up impact.

Does Music Intervention Improve Anxiety in Dementia Patients? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Music interventions (MIs) have been widely used to relieve anxiety in dementia in clinical settings. However, limited meta-analysis with randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on this topic has been conducted so far. A systematic search was conducted in four major databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) for data provided by RCTs from the inception to February 2023. The search strategy employed the terms "anxiety AND music AND dementia OR Alzheimer's disease". Thirteen RCTs (827 participants) were included. The results showed MI reduced anxiety significantly (SMD = -0.67, p < 0.001), especially for Alzheimer's disease (p = 0.007) and Mixed (p < 0.001)-type dementia. Moreover, significant improvements in agitation (p = 0.021) and depression (p < 0.001) in dementia were observed. Additionally, several psychological mechanisms which may be associated with MI were reviewed comprehensively. In conclusion, our findings support the efficacy of MI in alleviating anxiety symptoms in dementia patients. PROSPERO Registration (ID: CRD42021276646).

Content development and validation for a mobile application designed to train family caregivers in the use of music to support care of people living with dementia

Background

Music therapy is increasingly recognized as an effective support for people living with dementia. However, with incidences of dementia increasing, and limited availability of music therapists, there is a need for affordable and accessible ways that caregivers can learn to use music-therapy based strategies to support the people they care for. The MATCH project aims to address this by creating a mobile application that can train family caregivers in the use of music to support people living with dementia.

Methods

This study details the development and validation of training material for the MATCH mobile application. Training modules developed based on existing research were assessed by 10 experienced music therapist clinician-researchers, and seven family caregivers who had previously completed personalized training in music therapy strategies via the HOMESIDE project. Participants reviewed the content and scored each training module based on content (music therapists) and face (caregivers) validity scales. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate scores on the scales, while thematic analysis was used to analyze short-answer feedback.

Results

Participants scored the content as valid and relevant, however, they provided additional suggestions for improvement via short-answer feedback.

Conclusion

The content developed for the MATCH application is valid and will be trailed by family caregivers and people living with dementia in a future study.

Person-attuned musical interactions (PAMI) in dementia care. Complex intervention research for constructing a training manual

Introduction

Music is of vital importance for cognition, human care, and the formation of social communities throughout life. Dementia is a neurocognitive disorder that affects cognitive domains, and in late-stage dementia, care is needed in all aspects of daily living. Within residential care home contexts, carers play a significant role for the "caring culture" but often lack professional training in verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Thus, there is a need for training carers to respond to the multidimensional needs of persons with dementia. Music therapists use musical interactions but are not trained to train carers. Therefore, our aim was to explore person-attuned musical interactions (PAMI), and additionally, to develop and evaluate a training manual to be used by music therapists when supporting and training carers in non-verbal communication with persons with late-stage dementia in residential care home contexts.

Research process

With a realist perspective and systems thinking and within the framework for complex intervention research, the research group integrated several overlapping subprojects by applying a non-linear and iterative research process. Core elements related to person-centered dementia care as well as learning objectives were considered through the following four phases; Developing, Feasibility, Evaluation, and Implementation.

Results

The result was a training manual for qualified music therapists to use when teaching and collaborating with carers about how to implement PAMI in dementia care. The manual included comprehensive resources, a clear structure for training, defined learning objectives, and integration of theory.

Discussion

With increased knowledge about caring values and non-verbal communication, residential care home cultures may develop carer competencies and provide professional attuned care for persons with dementia. Further piloting and testing to examine the general effect on caring cultures is needed.

Comparative efficacy and acceptability of treatments for depressive symptoms in cognitive impairment: A systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis

Background

Depressive symptoms play an essential role in cognition decline, while the benefit and acceptability of treatments for depressive symptoms in cognitive impairment are still unknown.

Objective

To comprehensively evaluate the comparative efficacy and acceptability of treatments for depressive symptoms in cognitive impairment based on the quantitative Bayesian network meta-analysis method (NMA).

Method

We searched MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and PsycINFO from inception until August 2022 to identify randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating treatments for depressive symptoms in cognitive impairment. Efficacy was evaluated by the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) for depression; the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and the Cohen-Mansfeld Agitation Inventory (CMAI) for behavior; and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for cognition. Safety was evaluated by total adverse events (AEs), serious AEs, diarrhea, headache, and nausea.

Results

In this study, 13,043 participants from 107 RCTs were included, involving 28 treatments and the discontinuation of antidepressants. On CSDD, aerobic exercise (MD -4.51, 95%CrI -8.60 to -0.37), aripiprazole (MD -1.85, 95%CrI -3.66 to -0.02), behavioral training (MD -1.14, 95%CrI -2.04 to -0.34), electrical current stimulation (MD -3.30, 95%CrI -5.94 to -0.73), massage (MD -12.67, 95%CrI -14.71 to -10.59), music therapy (MD -2.63, 95%CrI -4.72 to -0.58), and reminiscence therapy (MD -2.34, 95%CrI -3.51 to -1.25) significantly outperformed the placebo. On MMSE, cognitive stimulation therapy (MD 1.42, 95%CrI 0.49 to 2.39), electrical current stimulation (MD 4.08, 95%CrI 1.07 to 7.11), and reminiscence therapy (MD 1.31, 95%CrI 0.04 to 2.91) significantly outperformed the placebo. Additionally, no treatments showed a significantly higher risk than the placebo.

Conclusion

Our NMAs indicated that non-pharmacological interventions were more efficacious and safe than pharmacological treatments for reducing depressive symptoms as well as improving cognitive impairment. Electrical current stimulation, aerobic exercise, and reminiscence therapy could be first recommended considering their beneficial performance on both depression and cognition. Hence, non-pharmacological treatments deserve more attention and extensive application and should at least be considered as an alternative or assistance in clinical settings.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021239621, identifier: CRD42021239621.

Comparative effects of music interventions on depression in older adults: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The effect of different music interventions on depression in older adults is varied. We aimed to explore the comparative effect of different music intervention features on depression in older adults.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CINAHL, and ProQuest Dissertations&Theses from inception to October 2021 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of music interventions in participants aged ≥60 years. Music interventions were classified based on the TIP (theme, intensity, and provider/platform) framework. The theme was divided into: 1) active music therapy (ACT); 2) receptive music therapy (Recep); and 3) music medicine (MM). The intensity was classified as high (>60 minutes/week), and low (≤60 minutes/week). The provider was classified as a music therapist (MT) or a non-music therapist (NonMT). Summary standardized mean differences (SMD) of level of depression with 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated using a frequentist framework with a random-effects model. The certainty of evidence was evaluated using the Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis (CINeMA) approach. This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021247165).

FINDINGS

Fifteen RCTs involving 1,144 older adults (mean age 67.9-86.6 years) were included. When compared with usual care, the most effective music intervention was active music therapy >60 minutes/week by music therapist (Act/High/MT) (SMD -3.00; 95%CI, -3.64,-2.35), followed by music medicine >60 minutes/week by non-music therapist (MM/High/NonMT) (SMD -2.06; 95%CI, -2.78,-1.35) with moderate and high certainty of evidence, respectively. Depression scores in older adults treated with ACT/High/MT was also significantly lower than all other interventions, except MM/High/NonMT. Low intensity music interventions other than Act/Low/MT had no impact on depression.

INTERPRETATION

Although active music therapy >60 minutes/week by music therapist is the most effective intervention to alleviate depression in older adults, music medicine by listening to music of older adult's own preference >60 minutes/week is an alternative approach in settings with limited resources.

FUNDING

None.

Effects of Group Music Intervention on Depression for Elderly People in Nursing Homes

Depression is the most common mental problem among the elderly, especially in long-term care facilities. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of group music intervention on depression for elderly people in nursing homes. Methods: A randomized control trial consisting of sixty-three elderly participants randomly and blindly assigned to a music group or control group was utilized. The music group received 20 sessions of group music intervention (two 30-min sessions per week for 10 weeks), and the control group received usual care with no music intervention. The Geriatric Depression Scale—Short Form (GDS-SF) and salivary cortisol at baseline, 5 weeks, and 10 weeks were collected for analysis. Results of the GEEs (generalized estimating equations) analysis indicated that after 20 sessions for 10 weeks of group music intervention, the groups showed a statistically significant difference in depression at 5 weeks and 10 weeks. There was no significant difference in the salivary cortisol concentration between the two groups. The results show that the group music intervention may effectively reduce the depression scores for elderly people in nursing homes. Conclusion: The group music intervention has positive effects on depression.

Non-pharmacological interventions for neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia in residential aged care settings: An umbrella review

BACKGROUND

Prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms amongst people living with dementia in residential aged care is high. Their presence is associated with poorer quality of life for residents and higher burden of care for staff. Existing reviews have not focused on the evaluation of efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions in specific population settings (community vs. residential aged care).

OBJECTIVES

To determine the efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions to manage neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia in residential aged care settings.

DESIGN

An umbrella review was conducted.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed/Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science were searched for eligible reviews in December 2019, February 2020 and June 2021.

METHODS

Two authors independently screened titles and abstracts, and assessed full-text reviews for eligibility. The quality of reviews was appraised with 'AMSTAR-2: A Measurement tool to assess systematic reviews'. Narrative summaries grouped findings by intervention domains.

RESULTS

From 1362 systematic reviews identified, 26 met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 10 focused on person tailored interventions, six on sensory stimulation interventions, three on environmental interventions, three on exercise interventions, and four on multiple intervention types. Quality ratings identified reviews to be of mostly moderate quality (73%). The majority or reviews reported positive results but not all were statistically significant. Tailored interventions that included music and social elements appeared to be most beneficial for depressive symptoms and mood. Furthermore, outcome measures and intervention protocols were highly heterogeneous across interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this umbrella review suggest that combining different types of interventions and tailoring them to the personal experiences of the resident is recommended. A more standardised approach for outcome measures used is vital to assess efficacy and allow comparison of future non-pharmacological interventions.

Effects of music intervention on physical and psychological problems in adults receiving haemodialysis treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To synthesise the effects of music intervention on the physical and psychological problems of adults receiving haemodialysis.

BACKGROUND

Adults receiving haemodialysis experience many physical and psychological problems. Music interventions may have beneficial effect on the management of these problems.

DESIGN

A systematic review and meta-analysis based on PRISMA 2020.

METHODS

This study followed the Cochrane 2021 guideline. Eleven electronic databases were searched from inception to July 2021. Randomised controlled trials that assessed music intervention on haemodialysis-related physical and psychological problems were included. Two authors independently assessed risk of bias with the Cochrane Collaboration tool. The Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software version 3 was used for meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Sixteen randomised controlled trials were included. This meta-analysis demonstrated that music intervention had significant and large effect on physical outcomes such as breath rate, oxygen saturation, arteriovenous fistula puncture-related pain, itching, sleep quality as well as psychological outcomes such as state anxiety and stress. The study also found that music intervention had significant and medium effect on physical outcomes such as systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and pain, and psychological outcomes such as anxiety. Music intervention had no effect on physical outcomes such as body temperature and cramps, and psychological outcomes such as trait anxiety and depression. Subgroup analyses indicated that sessions of 4-6 are more effective for improving the systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate than three sessions or less. It also found that music duration of 20 min or less is more effective in reducing anxiety compared to music duration of 30 min or more.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that music intervention may partially improve haemodialysis-related physical and psychological problems.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

This study will contribute to perform of music intervention for haemodialysis-related physical and psychological problems for health professionals, particularly nurses.

STUDY REGISTRATION

This study has been registered at PROSPERO (Registration No. CRD42021267463).

Strategies for implementing music-based interventions for people with dementia in long-term care facilities: A systematic review

OBJECTIVES

Research has found that music-based interventions can decrease behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia or behaviors that challenge (BPSD/BtC). However, how to effectively implement these interventions is unclear. This study synthesizes available evidence regarding implementation strategies and outcomes of music-based interventions for people with dementia at residential long-term care facilities.

METHODS

Study registered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42020194354). We searched the following databases: PsychInfo, PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and The Cochrane Library. Inclusion criteria included articles targeting music-based interventions conducted for people with dementia, studies conducted in residential long-term care facilities, and articles that reported implementation strategies and outcomes of the intervention.

RESULTS

Of the included eight studies, half were studies of music therapy and the other half were on individualized music. 49 implementation strategies were reported. The most frequently reported category of strategies was planning (34.7%), followed by education (24.5%), quality management (24.5%), restructuring (12.2%), and finance (4.1%). No strategies under the category of attending to the policy context were reported. The most frequently reported implementation outcomes were appropriateness (27.3%), followed by adoption (22.7%), fidelity (22.7%), acceptability (9.1%), sustainability (9.1%), and cost (9.1%). No studies measured feasibility or penetration.

CONCLUSIONS

Although various effective implementation strategies were identified, we were unable to examine the effectiveness of individual implementation strategies due to the designs of the selected studies. Less attention has been paid to strategies that aim at structural changes of intervention delivery systems. Future studies should investigate facilitators and barriers of implementing music-based interventions especially focusing on structural aspects.

The Effectiveness of Facial Expression Recognition in Detecting Emotional Responses to Sound Interventions in Older Adults With Dementia

This research uses facial expression recognition software (FaceReader) to explore the influence of different sound interventions on the emotions of older people with dementia. The field experiment was carried out in the public activity space of an older adult care facility. Three intervention sound sources were used, namely, music, stream, and birdsong. Data collected through the Self-Assessment Manikin Scale (SAM) were compared with facial expression recognition (FER) data. FaceReader identified differences in the emotional responses of older people with dementia to different sound interventions and revealed changes in facial expressions over time. The facial expression of the participants had significantly higher valence for all three sound interventions than in the intervention without sound (p < 0.01). The indices of sadness, fear, and disgust differed significantly between the different sound interventions. For example, before the start of the birdsong intervention, the disgust index initially increased by 0.06 from 0 s to about 20 s, followed by a linear downward trend, with an average reduction of 0.03 per 20 s. In addition, valence and arousal were significantly lower when the sound intervention began before, rather than concurrently with, the start of the activity (p < 0.01). Moreover, in the birdsong and stream interventions, there were significant differences between intervention days (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). Furthermore, facial expression valence significantly differed by age and gender. Finally, a comparison of the SAM and FER results showed that, in the music intervention, the valence in the first 80 s helps to predict dominance (r = 0.600) and acoustic comfort (r = 0.545); in the stream sound intervention, the first 40 s helps to predict pleasure (r = 0.770) and acoustic comfort (r = 0.766); for the birdsong intervention, the first 20 s helps to predict dominance (r = 0.824) and arousal (r = 0.891).

The Effect of Group Music Therapy with Physical Activities to Prevent Frailty in Older People Living in the Community

BACKGROUND

The frail elderly are prone to falls and fractures, which can result in dependency, disability, admission to institutions, and even death. They are at increased risk of frailty due to decreased physical activity, cognitive decline, and depression. Some evidence suggests that music therapy with physical activities may be particularly beneficial.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the intervention effect of music therapy with physical activities (MTPA) on frail elderly in the community.

METHODS

A quasi-experimental design was adopted. We selected 10 community care centers in southern Taiwan, in which elderly people over the age of 65 were assigned to a MTPA group and a comparison group after obtaining their informed consent. The MTPA group performed group music activities once a week for 120 min for 12 weeks, while the comparison group only continued with their daily activities. Instruments in this study included the Kihon Checklist, Senior Fitness Test (with Body Mass Index (BMI) and seven physical fitness items), Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE), and Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form (GDS-SF).

RESULTS

A total of 132 community elders agreed to participate in this study, and 122 completed both the pretest and posttest, with 62 in the music therapy group and 60 in the comparison group. The results of ANCOVA showed that after intervention, except for BMI, the Kihon frailty assessment, seven fitness scores individually and in total, MMSE, and depression showed significant improvements in the music therapy group relative to the comparison group (all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

MTPA can improve the frailty index, cognitive function, depression, and physical fitness index in the community elderly. The results of this study can be used as a reference for the design of activities for the community elderly, to provide them with appropriate activities, improve their physical functions, and improve or delay their disability.

Comparative Efficacy of Active Group Music Intervention versus Group Music Listening in Alzheimer's Disease

BACKGROUND

Music interventions are promising therapies for the management of symptoms in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Globally, music interventions can be classified as active or receptive depending on the participation of the subjects. Active and receptive music tasks engage different brain areas that might result in distinctive clinical effects. This study aims to compare the clinical effects of two types of music interventions and a control activity.

METHODS

Ninety AD patients from six nursing homes participated in the study. Nursing homes were randomly and blindly assigned to receive either active music intervention, receptive music intervention, or the usual care. Effects on cognition, behaviour, daily living activities, and motor function were assessed.

RESULTS

Active music intervention improved cognition, behaviour, and functional state in a higher extent than both receptive music intervention and usual care. The effect size of active music intervention for cognitive deficits and behavioural symptoms was large (η2 = 0.62 and 0.61, respectively), while for functional state, it was small-to-medium sized (η2 = 0.18). Receptive music intervention had a stabilizing effect on behavioural symptoms compared to control intervention (mean change from baseline ± standard deviation = -0.76 ± 3.66 and 3.35 ± 3.29, respectively). In the active music intervention, the percentage of patients who showed improvement in cognitive deficits (85.7), behavioural symptoms (92.9), and functional state (46.4) was higher than in both receptive listening (11.8, 42.9, and 14.3, respectively) and control group (6.3, 12.2, and 17.1, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Active music intervention is useful to improve symptoms of AD and should be prescribed as a complement to the usual treatment.

"Doing Things Together Is What It's About": An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the Experience of Group Therapeutic Songwriting From the Perspectives of People With Dementia and Their Family Caregivers

Background

The wellbeing of people living with dementia and their family caregivers may be impacted by stigma, changing roles, and limited access to meaningful opportunities as a dyad. Group therapeutic songwriting (TSW) and qualitative interviews have been utilized in music therapy research to promote the voices of people with dementia and family caregivers participating in separate songwriting groups but not together as dyads.

Procedures

This study aimed to explore how ten people with dementia/family caregiver dyads experienced a 6-week group TSW program. Dyads participated in homogenous TSW groups involving 2-4 dyads who were either living together in the community (2 spousal groups) or living separately because the person with dementia resided in a care home (1 family group, 1 spousal group). The TSW program, informed by personhood, couplehood, family centered and group process frameworks, involved creating original lyrics through song parody and song collage. Qualified Music Therapists facilitated sessions and interviewed each dyad separately. Interviews were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Findings

Five recurrent group themes were developed, indicating group TSW: (1) was a positive shared experience, benefiting both members of the dyad and motivating further engagement with music; (2) stimulated mental processes and reignited participants' interests and skills; (3) provided meaningful opportunities for reflection and connection with memories and life experiences; and (4) prompted interaction and collaboration, leading to social connections, empathic relationships and experiences of inclusion. Participants also highlighted how: (5) the facilitated process supported engagement, highlighting abilities and challenging doubts.

Conclusion

Dyads identified group TSW as an opportunity to recognize strengths, voice ideas and opinions, share meaningful experiences, and do "more with music." Participants valued TSW as a new, creative and stimulating experience that enabled connection with self and others and led to feelings of pride and achievement. Our findings further recognize how therapeutic intention and approach were reflected in participants' engagement and responses regardless of dementia stage and type, dyad relationship, or musical background. This research may broaden perspectives and expand understanding about how people with dementia and their family caregivers access and engage in music therapy.

Social isolation and depression onset among middle-aged and older adults in China: Moderating effects of education and gender differences

BACKGROUND

Most studies exploring the association between social isolation and depression tend to focus on Western countries. The primary aim of this longitudinal study was to examine the association between social isolation and depression onset among middle-aged and older adults in China.

METHODS

Data on 6,817 participants (mean age = 57.91, SD = 8.77; men, 52.1%) from the first and fourth waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were analyzed. Binary logistic regressions were used to evaluate the association between social isolation and depression onset. The moderating effects of socioeconomic status (education) and gender differences were also examined.

RESULTS

Social isolation was significantly associated with depression onset (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.10-1.41). Compared to men with lower education (OR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.77-1.23), those with higher education (OR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.40-2.60) exhibited a greater association between social isolation and depression onset. Moderating effect of education was not found for women.

LIMITATIONS

Depression were self-reported, which might be less reliable than clinical interview.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggested that high level of social isolation was significantly associated with a higher incidence of depression among middle-aged and older adults in China. Education played a moderating role in this association for men rather than women.

Music-based interventions for pain relief in patients undergoing hemodialysis: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Music therapy and music-based interventions have been used widely in numerous medical procedures to reduce the physical and psychological disorders. However, the effect of music therapy on pain relief in hemodialysis patients still remains unclear.

METHODS

Electronic databases were comprehensively searched through MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane, and WANFANG. All studies met inclusion criteria were eligible for systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical variables were extracted and pooled results were obtained using STATA software.

RESULTS

A total of 10 studies with 722 participants were included for systematic review. Overall, music therapy showed a significantly favorable effect on reducing pain for patients undergoing hemodialysis (SMD: -0.90, 95%CIs: -1.25 to -0.55, P < .001). No publication bias was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Music-based interventions could significantly relieve pain for patients undergoing hemodialysis, which should be promoted as an effective and safe complementary method.

Effects of music therapy on depression: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background

We aimed to determine and compare the effects of music therapy and music medicine on depression, and explore the potential factors associated with the effect.

Methods

PubMed (MEDLINE), Ovid-Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Clinical Evidence were searched to identify studies evaluating the effectiveness of music-based intervention on depression from inception to May 2020. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) were estimated with random-effect model and fixed-effect model.

Results

A total of 55 RCTs were included in our meta-analysis. Music therapy exhibited a significant reduction in depressive symptom (SMD = −0.66; 95% CI = -0.86 to -0.46; P<0.001) compared with the control group; while, music medicine exhibited a stronger effect in reducing depressive symptom (SMD = −1.33; 95% CI = -1.96 to -0.70; P<0.001). Among the specific music therapy methods, recreative music therapy (SMD = -1.41; 95% CI = -2.63 to -0.20; P<0.001), guided imagery and music (SMD = -1.08; 95% CI = -1.72 to -0.43; P<0.001), music-assisted relaxation (SMD = -0.81; 95% CI = -1.24 to -0.38; P<0.001), music and imagery (SMD = -0.38; 95% CI = -0.81 to 0.06; P = 0.312), improvisational music therapy (SMD = -0.27; 95% CI = -0.49 to -0.05; P = 0.001), music and discuss (SMD = -0.26; 95% CI = -1.12 to 0.60; P = 0.225) exhibited a different effect respectively. Music therapy and music medicine both exhibited a stronger effects of short and medium length compared with long intervention periods.

Conclusions

A different effect of music therapy and music medicine on depression was observed in our present meta-analysis, and the effect might be affected by the therapy process.

Effects of Music Therapy on Patients with Dementia-A Systematic Review

Dementia is an increasingly common syndrome and while pharmacotherapy is available, its potential benefit is limited, especially in non-cognitive outcomes. Non-pharmacotherapy such as music therapy is potentially associated with improved outcomes. We assessed the effects of music therapy on patients with dementia to evaluate its potential benefits on dementia. Two independent reviewers searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases for clinical trials, using the keywords "music therapy" and "dementia". Study outcomes included cognitive function, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), and quality of life. A total of 82 studies were included, of which 43 were interventional clinical trials, and 39 were systematic reviews or meta-analyses. Significant improvements in verbal fluency occurred after music therapy, with significant reductions in anxiety, depression, and apathy. There were no significant improvements in cognition or daily functioning, and the results on quality of life and agitation were ambiguous. Limitations of studies included low patient numbers, lack of standardized music therapy, and high heterogeneity in outcomes. More large-scale clinical trials would allow for clearer conclusions on the benefits of music therapy in patients with dementia.

"It's Feasible to Write a Song": A Feasibility Study Examining Group Therapeutic Songwriting for People Living With Dementia and Their Family Caregivers

Background

Psychosocial interventions for people with dementia and their family caregivers together may sustain relationship quality and social connection. No previous music therapy research has examined the effects of group therapeutic songwriting (TSW) attended by people with dementia/family caregiver dyads.

Methods

This pre-post feasibility study aimed to examine the acceptability of a group TSW intervention for people with dementia/family caregiver dyads and test the sensitivity of the following outcomes: Quality of the Caregiver-Patient Relationship (QCPR, primary); Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD) and Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Dementia for people with dementia, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Assessment of Quality of Life-8 Dimensions (AQoL-8D); and Zarit Burden Interview for family caregivers. Six weekly 1 h sessions guided participants to identify preferred music, brainstorm ideas, create lyrics, and record songs. Qualitative interviews were conducted with dyads who completed the intervention.

Results

Fourteen dyads were recruited and completed baseline assessments. Participants with dementia were aged 62-92 years (M = 77, SD = 11). Caregiver participants (11 spouses, two daughters, one son) were aged 54-92 years (M = 67, SD = 10.1). Four dyads withdrew owing to declining health or inconvenience before the program commenced (n = 2) and after attending 1-2 sessions (n = 2). Ten dyads formed four homogeneous TSW groups (71% completion). No statistically significant changes were detected for any measure. High QCPR ratings at baseline (M = 57.1) and follow-up (M = 57.4) demonstrated sustained relationship quality. For participants with dementia, large effect sizes for the CSDD suggested trends toward decreased depression (d = -0.83) and improved mood (d = -0.88). For family caregivers, a large effect size suggested a trend toward improvement for the AQoL-8D sub-domain examining independent living (d = -0.93). Qualitative data indicated that session design and delivery were acceptable, and TSW was a positive shared experience with personal benefits, which supported rather than changed relationship quality.

Conclusion

High retention and qualitative data indicate that TSW was well received by participants. Effect sizes suggest that group TSW for dyads may have beneficial impacts on depression for people with dementia and quality of life for family caregivers. Future research with a fully powered sample is recommended to further examine the psychosocial impacts of group TSW for people living with dementia/family caregiver dyads.

Perceived Benefits of Using Nonpharmacological Interventions in Older Adults With Alzheimer's Disease or Dementia With Lewy Bodies

The current qualitative research explored perceived effects of three nonpharmacological interventions (chair yoga [CY], participatory music intervention [MI], and chair-based exercise [CBE]) in managing symptoms in older adults with Alzheimer's disease or dementia with Lewy bodies from family caregivers' perspectives. Three focus groups were conducted following completion of the 12-week interventions. Constant comparative analysis determined whether each intervention had perceived effects on symptoms, based on caregivers' perspectives. Three major themes emerged: (a) Changes in Cognitive Symptoms, (b) Changes in Physical Function, and (c) Changes in Mood, Behavioral Symptoms, and Sleep Disturbance. Results can be integrated into treatment plans for older adults with dementia. Future research should focus on CY or CBE with support from caregivers to manage dementia symptoms and compare CY or CBE practiced with caregivers against CBE or CY practiced solely by participants with dementia. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 46(1), 37-46.].