Effects of group music intervention on depression, anxiety, and relationships in psychiatric patients: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To test whether group music therapy is effective for improving depression, anxiety, and relationships in psychiatric patients.


METHODS
Twenty six patients were non-randomly allocated to either a music intervention group or a routine care group. The music intervention group received 60 minutes of music intervention for 15 sessions (1 or 2 times weekly). The outcomes were measured with Beck's Depression Inventory, the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Relationship Change Scale.


RESULTS
After 15 sessions, the music intervention group showed significant improvements in depression, anxiety, and relationships compared with the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that music can improve depression, anxiety, and relationships in psychiatric patients. However, we cannot elucidate the nonspecific effects. Furthermore, objective and replicable measures are required from a randomized controlled trial with a larger sample size and an active comparable control.
Choi
Ae-Na
AN
Department of Music Therapy, Graduate School of Art Therapy, Daejeon University, Daejeon, South Korea. aena617@hanmail.net
Lee
Myeong Soo
MS
Lim
Hyun-Ja
HJ
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D008875:Middle Aged; D009147:Music Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome