This study assessed the effects of music therapy on elderly institutional dwellers with mental disorders residing in a geriatric ward of a mental hospital.
Methods:
For this quasi-experimental study, we evenly divided 56 patients into two groups. One received daily music therapy consisting of soft, relaxing music for 30 minutes for 30 days consecutively and the other routine inpatient care in another area at the same time that the first group was receiving music therapy. We recorded patient demographic data, music preferences, blood pressures, heart rates, respiratory rates, and results of Zung’s Self-rating Depression Scale scores. Statistical analyses, including Student’s t-test, paired t-test, chi-squared test, Pearson correlation, and repeated measures Analysis of Covariance, were conducted using SPSS statistical software (version 20.0).
Results:
Those who had received music therapy had significant reductions in depression severity (P < .05) compared to the control group. Significant improvements were observed in emotional, physiological, psychological, and psychomotor regulation. They also had significant improvement in blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate (all P < .05). Overall, a 68% variance could be attributable to the intervention. Post hoc analyses revealed that the longer the music therapy, the lower the degree of depression (P < .01).
Conclusion:
In conclusion, music therapy brought about several substantial improvements in emotional and physiological parameters, suggesting that it can be used in psychiatric geriatric wards.In conclusion, music therapy brought about several substantial improvements in emotional and physiological parameters, suggesting that it can be used in psychiatric geriatric wards.In conclusion, music therapy brought about several substantial improvements in emotional and physiological parameters, suggesting that it can be used in psychiatric geriatric wards.In conclusion, music therapy brought about several substantial improvements in emotional and physiological parameters, suggesting that it can be used in psychiatric geriatric wards.In conclusion, music therapy brought about several substantial improvements in emotional and physiological parameters, suggesting that it can be used in psychiatric geriatric wards.