Music: a simple intervention to improve mental and physical health

Music is an integral part of our society. It is a multi-billion-dollar industry and according to a report released by Nielsen Music, on average, Americans spend around 32 hours a week listening to music. Music has been used for centuries as a form of celebration and worship.

Interestingly, research confirms music is an effective treatment for depression and anxiety. It is a therapy that can rapidly improve our mood (or reduce it depending on what we are listening to). Music therapy consists of different options including passively listening to music, active singing, and/or playing a musical instrument. In a Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis comprising nine studies and 421 participants, it was concluded that music provided short-term benefits for people with depression [1]. Music therapy seems to have particular benefits for older adults with depression as a meta-analysis comprising 10 studies and 909 participants demonstrated music therapy plus standard treatment had large treatment effects on depressive symptoms in older adults [2].

In a recent study comprising 395 new mothers aged over 18 years, listening to music during pregnancy was associated with higher levels of well-being and reduced symptoms of postnatal depression in the first 3 months post birth [3]. In patients suffering from a stroke, listening to one hour of music during their inpatient rehabilitation was associated with reduced anxiety [4]. (Maybe we should have music playing in hospitals to facilitate recovery!)

Finally, in a meta-analysis consisting of 11 randomised controlled trials and 969 terminally ill participants, music therapy was associated with a reduction in pain and improvements in quality of life, anxiety, depression, and emotional function [5].

These findings confirm music as a simple intervention to enhance mood, improve emotional function, and overall quality of life in people experiencing mental and physical health problems. If it does not form part of our recommendations, we are likely doing our clients a disservice. Best of all it free from side-effects (unless we dance like crazy and pull a muscle)!

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References

1. Aalbers S, Fusar-Poli L, Freeman RE, et al. Music therapy for depression. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2017;11. CD004517. link to article
2. Zhao K, Bai ZG, Bo A, Chi I. A systematic review and meta-analysis of music therapy for the older adults with depression. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2016;31:1188–98. link to article
3. Le Danseur M, et al. Music as a Therapy to Alleviate Anxiety During Inpatient Rehabilitation for Stroke. Rehabil Nurs. 2019 Jan/Feb;44(1):29-34. link to article
4. Fancourt D and Perkins R. Could listening to music during pregnancy be protective against postnatal depression and poor wellbeing post birth? Longitudinal associations from a preliminary prospective cohort study. BMJ Open. 2018 Jul 17;8(7):e021251. link to article
5. Gao Y, et al. The Effectiveness of Music Therapy for Terminally Ill Patients: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2019 Feb;57(2):319-329. link to article