Effects of music on depression and sleep quality in elderly people: A randomised controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of music on sleep quality in elderly people. In addition, we aimed to examine if there were effects on vital signs and depression levels.


BACKGROUND
Sleep disturbances and depression are common in older people, and their impacts on this group, along with its conventional treatment, merit our attention as our population ages. Conventional pharmacological methods might result dependence and impairment in psychomotor and cognitive functioning. Listening to music, which is a non-pharmacological method, might reduce depression and promote sleep quality.


METHODS
A randomised controlled study was conducted during the period December 2006 to January 2007.


METHODS
At participants' homes in Hong Kong.


METHODS
In total, 42 elderly people (21 using music and 21 controls) completed the study after being recruited in one community services centre.


METHODS
Participants listened to their choice of music for 30min per week, for 4 weeks.


METHODS
Blood pressure, heart rate, depression levels and sleep quality variables were collected once a week for 4 weeks.


RESULTS
In the experimental group, there were statistically significant reductions in geriatric depression scores and sleep quality at week 4. In the control group, there were no statistically significant reductions in depression and improvement of sleep quality over the 4 weeks. However, for all the outcome measures, no significant differences were found between groups over the 4 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings contribute to knowledge about the effectiveness of soft slow music used as an intervention to improve depression and sleep quality in elderly people. Whilst there were no statistical differences between groups, there was some indication that music yielder higher improvement on some of the parameters, which are worthy of further investigation in larger trials.
Chan
Moon Fai
MF
Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, National University of Singapore, Block E3A, Level 3, 7 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117574, Singapore. nurcmf@nus.edu.sg
Chan
Engle Angela
EA
Mok
Esther
E
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009147:Music Therapy; D012890:Sleep; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000628:therapy*