Effects of Music and Movement on Mood in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

Major Depressive Disorder affects more than 350 million people worldwide, negatively impacting their quality of life and increasing their potential for mental health hospitalization with associated negative mood-related behaviors such as acts of aggression. In addition to being a worldwide problem, the background of this problem reveals that the negative effects of severe depression are also a local problem for hospitalized patients in Georgia, who may have difficulty caring for themselves, and may even attempt suicide.

The purpose of this presentation is to evaluate the current state of the literature related to the effects of music and movement on patients diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and/or who display severe symptoms of depression that may result in a higher risk of negative mood-related behaviors such as aggression towards self or others. Implementing the combination of music and exercise as a therapeutic complementary movement intervention may minimize aggressive behaviors, reduce hospitalization time, and ultimately lower health care costs more effectively than each therapy alone.

The methods utilized in the literature review for this poster presentation included a literature search using six databases, which produced 68 articles. After excluding articles that did not meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria, six articles remained, and were evaluated and displayed in an evidence table.

A review of these four articles revealed results that controlling negative mood-related behaviors in patients with Major Depressive Disorder is an ongoing and perplexing problem for which researchers do not yet have an adequate solution in the hospital setting. However, what literature does exist in the community setting is encouraging.

Conclusions and implications for the future may include a complementary music plus movement program in hospitalized patients with symptoms of depression. The program will have a potential to reduce negative mood and help mentally ill patients diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder better cope with their negative mood and related behaviors, potentially saving lives.