title: Composite effects of group drumming music therapy on modulation of neuroendocrine-immune parameters in normal subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Drum circles have been part of healing rituals in many cultures throughout the world since antiquity. Although drum circles are gaining increased interest as a complementary therapeutic strategy in the traditional medical arena, limited scientific data documenting biological benefits associated with percussion activities exist.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the role of group-drumming music therapy as a composite activity with potential for alteration of stress-related hormones and enhancement of specific immunologic measures associated with natural killer cell activity and cell-mediated immunity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single trial experimental intervention with control groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Mind-Body Wellness Center, an outpatient medical facility in Meadville, Pa.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 111 age- and sex-matched volunteer subjects (55 men and 56 women, with a mean age of 30.4 years) were recruited.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six preliminary supervised groups were studied using various control and experimental paradigms designed to separate drumming components for the ultimate determination of a single experimental model, including 2 control groups (resting and listening) as well as 4 group-drumming experimental models (basic, impact, shamanic, and composite). The composite drumming group using a music therapy protocol was selected based on preliminary statistical analysis, which demonstrated immune modulation in a direction opposite to that expected with the classical stress response. The final experimental design included the original composite drumming group plus 50 additional age- and sex-matched volunteer subjects who were randomly assigned to participate in group drumming or control sessions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pre- and postintervention measurements of plasma cortisol, plasma dehydroepiandrosterone, plasma dehydroepiandrosterone-to-cortisol ratio, natural killer cell activity, lymphokine-activated killer cell activity, plasma interleukin-2, plasma interferon-gamma, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Beck Depression Inventory II.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group drumming resulted in increased dehydroepiandrosterone-to-cortisol ratios, increased natural killer cell activity, and increased lymphokine-activated killer cell activity without alteration in plasma interleukin 2 or interferon-gamma, or in the Beck Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory II.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Drumming is a complex composite intervention with the potential to modulate specific neuroendocrine and neuroimmune parameters in a direction opposite to that expected with the classic stress response.
authors.affiliation: Meadville Medical Center's Mind-Body Wellness Center, 18201 Conneaut Lake Rd, Meadville, PA 16335, USA. doctorb@mind-body.org
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Bittman
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Berk
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Felten
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Westengard
authors.forename: O C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Simonton
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pappas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ninehouser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007107:Immune System; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009147:Music Therapy; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone