title: The efficacy of music therapy for people with dementia: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To (1) perform a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials pertaining to the efficacy of music therapy on disruptive behaviours, anxiety levels, depressive moods and cognitive functioning in people with dementia; and (2) clarify which interventions, therapists and participant characteristics exerted higher and more prominent effects.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Present study was the first to perform a meta-analysis that included all the randomised controlled trials found in literature relating to music therapy for people with dementia over the past 15 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  A meta-analysis study design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative studies were retrieved from PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library Database, CINAHL, SCOPUS and PsycINFO. A meta-analysis was used to calculate the overall effect sizes of music therapy on outcome indicators.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Music therapy significantly improved disruptive behaviours [Hedges' g = -0·66; 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0·44 to -0·88] and anxiety levels (Hedges' g = -0·51; 95% CI = -0·02 to -1·00) in people with dementia. Music therapy might affect depressive moods (Hedges' g = -0·39; 95% CI = 0·01 to -0·78), and cognitive functioning (Hedges' g = 0·19; 95% CI = 0·45 to -0·08).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Music therapy exerted a moderately large effect on disruptive behaviours of people with dementia, a moderate effect on anxiety levels and depressive moods, and a small effect on cognitive functioning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individual music therapy provided once a week to patients with cognitive functioning and manual guided in music intervention construction is suggested. Group music therapy is provided several times a week to reduce their disruptive behaviours, anxiety levels and depressive moods. Music therapy is a cost-effective, enjoyable, noninvasive therapy and could be useful for clinical nurses in creating an environment that is conducive to the well-being of patients with dementia.
authors: Graduate Institute of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Nursing, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Yu-Shiun
authors: YS
authors: Chang
authors: Aviation Physiology Research Laboratory, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital Gangshan Branch, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.|Institute of Aerospace and Undersea Medicine, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Neurology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Hsin
authors: H
authors: Chu
authors: Graduate Institute of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Nursing, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.|School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Chyn-Yng
authors: CY
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Nursing, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Jui-Chen
authors: JC
authors: Tsai
authors: Graduate Institute of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Min-Huey
authors: MH
authors: Chung
authors: Graduate Institute of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Yuan-Mei
authors: YM
authors: Liao
authors: School of Gerontology Health Management, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Master Program in Long-term Care, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Mei-ju
authors: MJ
authors: Chi
authors: School of Gerontology Health Management, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Megan F
authors: MF
authors: Liu
authors: Graduate Institute of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Nursing, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.|School of Gerontology Health Management, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.|Psychiatric Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Kuei-Ru
authors: KR
authors: Chou
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D003071:Cognition; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009147:Music Therapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
keywords: dementia; meta-analysis; music therapy