How does music therapy impact depression and anxiety. What are the benefits of music therapy for mental health conditions. Can creating music improve mood and well-being. How effective is music therapy compared to traditional treatments.

Understanding Music Therapy: A Powerful Tool for Mental Health

Music therapy harnesses the profound impact of music on the human mind to enhance overall well-being and address various mental health conditions. This innovative approach utilizes a person’s responses and connections to music as a catalyst for positive changes in mood and mental state.

The versatility of music therapy is evident in its various forms, which include:

• Creating music with instruments
• Singing
• Moving to music
• Active listening

One of the key strengths of music therapy lies in its ability to evoke a wide range of emotions quickly, from joy and excitement to sadness, calmness, and introspection. This emotional resonance makes it a powerful tool for processing complex feelings and improving mental health.

The Science Behind Music’s Impact on the Brain

The effect of music on the brain is intricate and multifaceted. Different components of music are processed by various areas of the brain:

• Cerebellum: Processes rhythm
• Frontal lobes: Decode emotional signals created by music
• Right temporal lobe: Helps understand pitch
• Nucleus accumbens: Produces physical signs of pleasure in response to powerful music

This complex neurological response to music enables therapists to leverage its effects in treating mental health conditions. The deep-rooted connection between humans and music, evidenced by the discovery of 40,000-year-old instruments, underscores its potential as a therapeutic tool.

How does music therapy differ from traditional talking therapies?

Unlike cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or counseling, music therapy does not rely on verbal communication. This makes it particularly beneficial for individuals who struggle with verbal expression due to disabilities, neurodegenerative conditions, acquired brain injuries, or mental health issues. Moreover, music therapy can be conducted in the comfort of one’s home, making it accessible to those who may have difficulty traveling to a therapist’s office.

The Evolution of Music Therapy: From Ancient Greece to Modern Practice

While the therapeutic use of music dates back to Ancient Greece, its formal application in modern healthcare began in the 20th century, particularly after World War II. The earliest documented reference to music therapy appears in a 1789 article titled “Music physically considered.”

The timeline of music therapy’s development includes:

1. 1800s: Growth in medical research on music’s therapeutic nature
2. 1940s: Universities begin offering music therapy programs
3. Mid-20th century: E. Thayer Gaston pioneers the use of music as a therapeutic tool
4. Present day: Establishment of music therapy associations worldwide

Today, music therapists work across various sectors, including private care, education, and social care, demonstrating the widespread recognition of music therapy’s effectiveness.

Music Therapy for Depression: A Harmonious Approach to Healing

Depression, a prevalent mental health condition affecting millions worldwide, can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life. Music therapy offers a unique and effective approach to managing depressive symptoms and promoting emotional well-being.

How does music therapy alleviate symptoms of depression?

Music therapy can help alleviate depression symptoms through several mechanisms:

• Emotional expression: Music provides a non-verbal outlet for expressing complex emotions
• Mood enhancement: Certain types of music can stimulate the release of mood-boosting neurotransmitters
• Stress reduction: Listening to calming music can lower cortisol levels and reduce stress
• Social connection: Group music therapy sessions can foster a sense of community and reduce feelings of isolation
• Self-esteem building: Learning to play an instrument or create music can boost confidence and self-worth

Research has shown that music therapy can be particularly effective when combined with traditional treatments for depression, such as medication and psychotherapy. A study published in the World Journal of Psychiatry found that music therapy significantly reduced depressive symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder when used as an adjunct to standard care.

Can specific types of music be more beneficial for depression?

While individual preferences play a crucial role, certain types of music have shown promise in managing depressive symptoms:

• Classical music: Known for its calming effects and potential to reduce stress and anxiety
• Upbeat, energetic music: Can help combat lethargy and low mood associated with depression
• Nature sounds and ambient music: May promote relaxation and improve sleep quality
• Culturally significant music: Can evoke positive memories and emotions, fostering a sense of identity and belonging

It’s important to note that the most effective type of music varies from person to person. Music therapists work closely with individuals to identify the most beneficial musical experiences for their unique needs and preferences.

Anxiety and Music Therapy: Composing Calm in Chaotic Times

Anxiety disorders affect a significant portion of the population, causing persistent worry, fear, and physical symptoms that can interfere with daily life. Music therapy has emerged as a promising intervention for managing anxiety symptoms and promoting relaxation.

How does music therapy help reduce anxiety?

Music therapy can help alleviate anxiety through various mechanisms:

• Physiological regulation: Slow, rhythmic music can help slow heart rate and reduce blood pressure
• Distraction: Engaging with music can shift focus away from anxious thoughts
• Emotional processing: Creating or listening to music can help individuals process and express anxiety-related emotions
• Relaxation techniques: Music can be incorporated into breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation
• Cognitive restructuring: Lyrics can be used to challenge and reframe anxious thoughts

A meta-analysis published in the Journal of Music Therapy found that music interventions had a significant moderate effect on reducing anxiety in various populations, including medical patients, individuals with mental health disorders, and healthy adults.

Are there specific music therapy techniques for anxiety management?

Music therapists employ a range of techniques to help individuals manage anxiety:

• Guided imagery with music: Combining relaxing music with visualization exercises
• Rhythmic entrainment: Using rhythm to regulate physiological processes
• Songwriting: Expressing anxious feelings through lyric writing and composition
• Group drumming: Fostering a sense of community and releasing tension through rhythmic expression
• Music-assisted relaxation: Incorporating music into progressive muscle relaxation or autogenic training

These techniques can be tailored to individual needs and preferences, making music therapy a flexible and personalized approach to anxiety management.

Beyond Depression and Anxiety: Music Therapy’s Impact on Other Mental Health Conditions

While depression and anxiety are common targets for music therapy, its benefits extend to a wide range of mental health conditions and neurodevelopmental disorders.

How can music therapy benefit individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)?

Music therapy has shown promise in supporting individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by:

• Enhancing communication skills
• Improving social interaction
• Developing motor skills
• Reducing anxiety and stress
• Promoting emotional expression

A systematic review published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders found that music therapy interventions were effective in improving social skills and reducing symptom severity in children with ASD.

Can music therapy help individuals with schizophrenia?

Research suggests that music therapy can be beneficial for individuals with schizophrenia by:

• Reducing negative symptoms
• Improving social functioning
• Enhancing emotional expression
• Promoting relaxation and stress reduction
• Supporting cognitive function

A Cochrane review found that music therapy, when added to standard care, can help people with schizophrenia improve their global state, mental state, and social functioning over the short to medium term.

The Future of Music Therapy: Innovations and Emerging Research

As the field of music therapy continues to evolve, new technologies and research directions are expanding its potential applications and effectiveness.

How is technology shaping the future of music therapy?

Emerging technologies are revolutionizing music therapy practices:

• Virtual reality (VR): Immersive musical experiences for pain management and anxiety reduction
• Artificial intelligence (AI): Personalized music recommendation systems for therapeutic purposes
• Mobile apps: Accessible music therapy tools for at-home practice and monitoring
• Brain-computer interfaces: Direct neural feedback for optimizing music therapy interventions
• Telemedicine platforms: Remote music therapy sessions expanding access to care

These technological advancements are not only enhancing the delivery of music therapy but also providing new avenues for research and understanding of music’s impact on mental health.

What are some promising areas of research in music therapy?

Current and future research in music therapy is focusing on several exciting areas:

• Neuroimaging studies: Understanding the precise neural mechanisms underlying music therapy’s effects
• Personalized medicine approaches: Tailoring music interventions based on genetic and neurobiological markers
• Cross-cultural studies: Exploring the universal and culture-specific aspects of music therapy
• Long-term efficacy: Investigating the sustained benefits of music therapy interventions
• Integration with other therapies: Examining the synergistic effects of combining music therapy with other treatment modalities

These research directions hold promise for further establishing music therapy as an evidence-based practice and expanding its applications across various mental health conditions.

Integrating Music Therapy into Holistic Mental Health Care

As the evidence base for music therapy continues to grow, there is increasing recognition of its value as part of a comprehensive approach to mental health care.

How can music therapy complement traditional mental health treatments?

Music therapy can enhance the effectiveness of conventional treatments in several ways:

• Facilitating emotional expression in talk therapy sessions
• Providing a non-pharmacological option for symptom management
• Enhancing motivation and engagement in treatment
• Supporting the development of coping skills and stress management techniques
• Fostering a sense of empowerment and agency in the recovery process

When integrated into a multidisciplinary treatment plan, music therapy can address aspects of mental health that may be challenging to target through traditional interventions alone.

What are the potential barriers to accessing music therapy?

Despite its benefits, several factors can limit access to music therapy:

• Limited availability of qualified music therapists in some regions
• Lack of insurance coverage or reimbursement for music therapy services
• Misconceptions about the efficacy of music therapy among healthcare providers
• Cultural barriers and stigma surrounding non-traditional mental health interventions
• Limited awareness of music therapy as a treatment option among the general public

Addressing these barriers through advocacy, education, and policy changes is crucial for expanding access to music therapy and realizing its full potential in mental health care.

As research continues to unveil the profound effects of music on mental health, the integration of music therapy into mainstream treatment approaches offers a harmonious path towards more comprehensive and personalized care. By leveraging the universal language of music, therapists can tap into a powerful tool for healing, self-expression, and emotional regulation, providing hope and support for individuals navigating the complex landscape of mental health challenges.

Types and benefits for anxiety, depression, and more

Music therapy involves using a person’s responses and connections to music to encourage positive changes in mood and overall well-being. Music therapy can include creating music with instruments of all types, singing, moving to music, or just listening to it.

Music has powerful effects on the mind. Different styles of music can have a significant effect on a person’s mood very quickly, and it can help them experience and process a wide range of emotions, from happiness to excitement, as well as sadness, calmness, and thoughtfulness.

Making music can also be as beneficial as listening to music, and music therapy encourages people to actively create the music they find helpful to them.

This article explains what music therapy is, how it can help improve mental health, and its effects on different mental health conditions.

Music therapy uses the powerful abilities of music to improve a person’s well-being. It is an alternative to other types of therapy, such as counseling or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Music therapists use a person’s responses and connections to music to encourage positive changes in mood and overall mental mindset. Music therapy can include listening to music or creating music with instruments of all types. It may also involve singing or moving to music.

It can help improve confidence, communication skills, independence, self-awareness and awareness of others, and concentration and attention skills.

Live musical interaction between a person and their therapist is important during music therapy.

Improvisation can also be a key part of music therapy. This involves making music up on the spot in response to a mood or a theme, such as making the sound of a storm using drums and a rainstick.

The way that music affects the brain is very complex. All aspects of music — including pitch, tempo, and melody — are processed by different areas of the brain.

For instance, the cerebellum processes rhythm, the frontal lobes decode the emotional signals created by the music, and a small portion of the right temporal lobe helps understand pitch.

The reward center of the brain, called the nucleus accumbens, can even produce strong physical signs of pleasure, such as goosebumps, when it hears powerful music.

Music therapy can use these deep physical reactions the body has to music to help people with mental health conditions.

Music has been a part of human life for thousands of years. Specifically, experts have found instruments dating back to over 40,000 years ago, suggesting that humans’ desire to express themselves or communicate through music is deep rooted.

The use of music for therapy and healing dates back to Ancient Greece, but its therapeutic use today began in the 20th century, after World War II had ended. The earliest reference to music therapy comes from a 1789 article called “Music physically considered. ”

The 1800s saw medical research into the therapeutic nature of music grow, and by the 1940s, universities were offering music therapy programs. E. Thayer Gaston, one of three men who pioneered the use of music as a therapeutic tool, had organized and promoted the practice so that it would become an accepted type of therapy.

Now, there are many music therapy associations around the world, and music therapists work in private care, education, and social care.

Music therapy does not rely on verbal communication, so it can be better for people who struggle to communicate verbally. This could be due to a disability, a neurodegenerative condition such as dementia, an acquired brain injury, or a mental health condition.

As CBT and counseling are both talking therapies, they may not be suitable for people who find verbal communication difficult. This is where music therapy can be beneficial.

Additionally, mental health practitioners can bring music therapy directly to a person, such as if they cannot get out of bed or are unable to get to a therapist’s office. Enjoying music therapy at home can also benefit children who want to be in a familiar environment during their sessions.

This is not specific to music therapy, though, as many other types of psychotherapy can take place in the home.

The skills a person learns in music therapy can be useful in their everyday life, too. They may even take up learning an instrument as a new hobby, which they can use as a tool for improving their mental health and coping with difficult situations throughout their life.

There are extra benefits to listening or creating music that talking therapies may not be able to offer.

For instance, learning and practicing a piece of music can improve memory skills, coordination, reading, comprehension, and math skills, and it can also give lessons in responsibility and perseverance.

People can also enjoy a great sense of achievement from creating a piece of music, which can help improve their mood and self-esteem.

Music therapy can also introduce people to many different cultures, as clients can explore any type and genre of music during therapy. Understanding the history behind a piece of music can help people connect with the music they are hearing or playing.

Although self-expression is a part of talking therapy, music therapy allows people to express themselves in a creative way, which can be a more enjoyable way of exploring difficult emotions.

Lyric analysis is another accessible way for people to explore and process difficult emotions, experiences, or memories through music.

For example, a person can find themes and meanings within lyrics and offer alternative lyrics that apply to their life and experiences, which can help them find the words that represent how they are feeling if they are finding it hard to express this themselves.

Some of the documented benefits of music therapy include:

• improved self-esteem
• decreased anxiety
• increased motivation
• successful and safe emotional release
• increased verbalization
• stronger connections with other people

Many studies suggest that music therapy can reduce feelings of anxiety, including in people with cancer, those undergoing surgery, and individuals going into intensive care units. Some studies also suggest that music can reduce blood pressure and the heartbeat, which can have a direct impact on how stressed a person feels.

There is also evidence to suggest that those undergoing music therapy experience reduced anxiety immediately after the session, which indicates that music therapy could be a convenient way to reduce symptoms quickly.

Music affects the amount of stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, that the body releases, and reducing these hormones can help relieve symptoms of anxiety.

Studies suggest that music therapy can improve symptoms of depression, with those undergoing music therapy along with standard treatments for depression — such as talking therapy — improving more than people who only received standard therapy.

Listening to music can also release dopamine, which is a hormone that makes people feel good, and endorphins, which are hormones that can induce happy moods and relieve pain.

Although music therapy is not a cure for depression, it can offer short-term benefits by improving mood and encouraging connection and self-expression.

Some of the benefits of music therapy for children include:

• offering fun ways of expressing thoughts and feelings
• practicing social interaction and communication skills
• encouraging creative play
• improving concentration and coordination
• increasing self-awareness
• increasing awareness of other people, particularly in group music sessions
• building self-esteem and resilience
• building language and listening skills
• strengthening family relationships

Although music therapy is not a cure for any mental health condition, it can be an effective and enjoyable tool for reducing the symptoms of numerous conditions, including depression and anxiety.

Music therapy offers people a creative and accessible way of expressing their feelings and processing their experiences. People have used music for its powerful effects on mood and emotions for a long time.

Aside from helping with mental health conditions, music therapy also has numerous other benefits, such as providing a creative outlet, expanding knowledge and cultural awareness, and improving cognitive skills such as memory.

Read this article in Spanish.

Types and benefits for anxiety, depression, and more

Music therapy involves using a person’s responses and connections to music to encourage positive changes in mood and overall well-being. Music therapy can include creating music with instruments of all types, singing, moving to music, or just listening to it.

Music has powerful effects on the mind. Different styles of music can have a significant effect on a person’s mood very quickly, and it can help them experience and process a wide range of emotions, from happiness to excitement, as well as sadness, calmness, and thoughtfulness.

Making music can also be as beneficial as listening to music, and music therapy encourages people to actively create the music they find helpful to them.

This article explains what music therapy is, how it can help improve mental health, and its effects on different mental health conditions.

Music therapy uses the powerful abilities of music to improve a person’s well-being. It is an alternative to other types of therapy, such as counseling or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Music therapists use a person’s responses and connections to music to encourage positive changes in mood and overall mental mindset. Music therapy can include listening to music or creating music with instruments of all types. It may also involve singing or moving to music.

It can help improve confidence, communication skills, independence, self-awareness and awareness of others, and concentration and attention skills.

Live musical interaction between a person and their therapist is important during music therapy.

Improvisation can also be a key part of music therapy. This involves making music up on the spot in response to a mood or a theme, such as making the sound of a storm using drums and a rainstick.

The way that music affects the brain is very complex. All aspects of music — including pitch, tempo, and melody — are processed by different areas of the brain.

For instance, the cerebellum processes rhythm, the frontal lobes decode the emotional signals created by the music, and a small portion of the right temporal lobe helps understand pitch.

The reward center of the brain, called the nucleus accumbens, can even produce strong physical signs of pleasure, such as goosebumps, when it hears powerful music.

Music therapy can use these deep physical reactions the body has to music to help people with mental health conditions.

Music has been a part of human life for thousands of years. Specifically, experts have found instruments dating back to over 40,000 years ago, suggesting that humans’ desire to express themselves or communicate through music is deep rooted.

The use of music for therapy and healing dates back to Ancient Greece, but its therapeutic use today began in the 20th century, after World War II had ended. The earliest reference to music therapy comes from a 1789 article called “Music physically considered. ”

The 1800s saw medical research into the therapeutic nature of music grow, and by the 1940s, universities were offering music therapy programs. E. Thayer Gaston, one of three men who pioneered the use of music as a therapeutic tool, had organized and promoted the practice so that it would become an accepted type of therapy.

Now, there are many music therapy associations around the world, and music therapists work in private care, education, and social care.

Music therapy does not rely on verbal communication, so it can be better for people who struggle to communicate verbally. This could be due to a disability, a neurodegenerative condition such as dementia, an acquired brain injury, or a mental health condition.

As CBT and counseling are both talking therapies, they may not be suitable for people who find verbal communication difficult. This is where music therapy can be beneficial.

Additionally, mental health practitioners can bring music therapy directly to a person, such as if they cannot get out of bed or are unable to get to a therapist’s office. Enjoying music therapy at home can also benefit children who want to be in a familiar environment during their sessions.

This is not specific to music therapy, though, as many other types of psychotherapy can take place in the home.

The skills a person learns in music therapy can be useful in their everyday life, too. They may even take up learning an instrument as a new hobby, which they can use as a tool for improving their mental health and coping with difficult situations throughout their life.

There are extra benefits to listening or creating music that talking therapies may not be able to offer.

For instance, learning and practicing a piece of music can improve memory skills, coordination, reading, comprehension, and math skills, and it can also give lessons in responsibility and perseverance.

People can also enjoy a great sense of achievement from creating a piece of music, which can help improve their mood and self-esteem.

Music therapy can also introduce people to many different cultures, as clients can explore any type and genre of music during therapy. Understanding the history behind a piece of music can help people connect with the music they are hearing or playing.

Although self-expression is a part of talking therapy, music therapy allows people to express themselves in a creative way, which can be a more enjoyable way of exploring difficult emotions.

Lyric analysis is another accessible way for people to explore and process difficult emotions, experiences, or memories through music.

For example, a person can find themes and meanings within lyrics and offer alternative lyrics that apply to their life and experiences, which can help them find the words that represent how they are feeling if they are finding it hard to express this themselves.

Some of the documented benefits of music therapy include:

• improved self-esteem
• decreased anxiety
• increased motivation
• successful and safe emotional release
• increased verbalization
• stronger connections with other people

Many studies suggest that music therapy can reduce feelings of anxiety, including in people with cancer, those undergoing surgery, and individuals going into intensive care units. Some studies also suggest that music can reduce blood pressure and the heartbeat, which can have a direct impact on how stressed a person feels.

There is also evidence to suggest that those undergoing music therapy experience reduced anxiety immediately after the session, which indicates that music therapy could be a convenient way to reduce symptoms quickly.

Music affects the amount of stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, that the body releases, and reducing these hormones can help relieve symptoms of anxiety.

Studies suggest that music therapy can improve symptoms of depression, with those undergoing music therapy along with standard treatments for depression — such as talking therapy — improving more than people who only received standard therapy.

Listening to music can also release dopamine, which is a hormone that makes people feel good, and endorphins, which are hormones that can induce happy moods and relieve pain.

Although music therapy is not a cure for depression, it can offer short-term benefits by improving mood and encouraging connection and self-expression.

Some of the benefits of music therapy for children include:

• offering fun ways of expressing thoughts and feelings
• practicing social interaction and communication skills
• encouraging creative play
• improving concentration and coordination
• increasing self-awareness
• increasing awareness of other people, particularly in group music sessions
• building self-esteem and resilience
• building language and listening skills
• strengthening family relationships

Although music therapy is not a cure for any mental health condition, it can be an effective and enjoyable tool for reducing the symptoms of numerous conditions, including depression and anxiety.

Music therapy offers people a creative and accessible way of expressing their feelings and processing their experiences. People have used music for its powerful effects on mood and emotions for a long time.

Aside from helping with mental health conditions, music therapy also has numerous other benefits, such as providing a creative outlet, expanding knowledge and cultural awareness, and improving cognitive skills such as memory.

Read this article in Spanish.

Scientists: Music therapy cures depression in children and adolescents

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Music can help children with autism

Ksenia Kolesnikova

Researchers at Queen’s University Belfast have confirmed in a new study that music therapy helps treat depression in children and adolescents. They proved the effectiveness of this method during a large experiment, which was conducted for three years with the participation of 250 children with behavioral and emotional problems.

The children were divided into two groups. The first was treated with standard means, and the second, in addition to drugs, regularly listened to music. The participants of the second group improved much faster. Among other things, in the “musical” group, children improved communication and interactive skills, as well as signs of depression disappeared and self-esteem increased. However, what is perhaps the most important? This is the conclusion of scientists: the results of treatment with the help of music remain for a long time.

– Music helps not only children with mental disorders, but also those who are diagnosed with autism and cerebral palsy, – Tamara Trait, teacher-defectologist at the Scientific and Practical Center for Children’s Psychoneurology in Moscow, comments on the study of British colleagues. According to her, sick children who attend music classes recover better, react to the world around them, communicate more actively with their peers.

– There are several positive aspects to therapy with melodies and sounds. Firstly, children in the course of the lesson are included in communication with peers and teachers: they sing and even dance together, their social activity increases. Secondly, they begin to feel the rhythm, tempo, sounds, thus experiencing sensory saturation through hearing, says Tamara Trait. – If the child is afraid of loud sounds or is depressed, then you can use the passive method of music therapy – invite him to listen to calm compositions or put the classics in the background during class.

Russian experts emphasize that sound therapy should be carried out only under the supervision of a specialist, taking into account the characteristics of each child.

– The experience of the first lessons turned out to be quite successful: not only children, but also parents were satisfied, – says Professor Tatyana Batysheva, Director of the Scientific and Practical Center for Child Psychoneurology. – We used both live music – piano, and listened to the melodies in the recording. The positive effect was in both cases.

Opinion

Sergey Shushardzhan, Doctor of Medicine, Professor:

– What British scientists have confirmed has been put into practice in Russia for a long time. There are special soothing algorithms that affect brain activity through hearing. The simplest scheme: if the therapist needs to calm the patient, it is better to use melodies at a slow pace, and if the child, for example, is not active enough, fast compositions are needed. Also, the mood that music creates is influenced by the tonality, rhythm, and frequencies at which the sound is played. A person’s physical condition also depends on the emotions of a person. To learn how to properly influence the patient with music, you need to study for several years.

Rossiyskaya gazeta – Federal issue: №254(6526)

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Health

How music helps with depression

After all, music can also be a medicine! Here’s why…

March 24th is World Depression Day. It is celebrated to pay special attention to mental health problems. Depression is a serious and common condition that requires medical treatment. At the same time, there are different ways to alleviate the condition or help yourself, and music is one of the most effective.

Music therapy (MT) is a separate broad topic, the development of which has been going on since ancient Greece. As the philosopher Porfiry wrote in The Life of Pythagoras, “[Pythagoras] healed mental and bodily suffering with rhythm, songs and incantations. He adapted this approach to his companions – and he himself heard harmony in everything, because he could realize the unity of the spheres and the harmony of the stars moving with them.
For everyone who is not as brilliant as Pythagoras, there are specialists – music therapists. Direct therapy divide into active, receptive and integrative. Active involves creating and performing music. Receptive – listening to it. And the integrative one connects the impact of music with other types of creativity.

Among the improvements reported by music therapy are the following:

• Decreased muscle tension;
• Increased self-esteem;
• Anxiety reduction;
• Improved personal relationships;
• Increased motivation;
• Safe release of emotions.

Study #1: Music + Traditional Therapy = Greater Effectiveness

The study, published in British Journal of Psychiatrist and cited in Mindbody7 , involved 79 people aged 18 to 50 with a diagnosis ed depression. 90,059 46 participants received traditional care, including therapy sessions, medications, and psychiatric counseling. The rest received the same treatment, but in addition, once every two weeks, active music therapy sessions were performed, in which music was created using a sonic hammer, acoustic drum and other percussion.
Summary: After three months of treatment, the music therapy group showed a significant improvement in depressive symptoms compared to the control group.
Researchers at the Cochrane Library, an international collection of databases on medicine and public health, came to the same conclusions. They analyzed first five , and then nine studies and confirmed that music therapy in combination with traditional therapy is effective for patients with depressive disorders.

Study #2: Music Therapy Reduces Depression in Children and Adolescents

Researchers at Bournemouth University found that children and adolescents 8 to 16 years of age who received music therapy in addition to talking therapy experienced significant improvements in self-esteem and social skills, while other symptoms of depression decreased.

Study #3: Music helps produce dopamine and oxytocin while lowering cortisol

This is the conclusion of the Global Council for Brain Health (GCBH). The results of their study published on the AARP website, an organization focused on the problems of people over the age of 50.
“There is moderate evidence for the ability of music therapy to influence cortisol levels to reduce stress,” says a report titled “Music on Our Minds: The Rich Potential of Music to Improve Brain Health and Mental Well-Being.” – There is less evidence that music therapy and singing promote the release of oxytocin, the feel-good hormone [note: still they are ]. Either way, music therapists and psychologists often recommend listening to music as an accepted, accessible, and non-invasive way to help people cope with stress and stress-related health issues.”

Among the recommendations mentioned by GCBH:

• Make music a part of your life – it improves its quality;
• Dance, sing or move to music;
• Enjoy listening to familiar music that soothes you and evokes positive memories. This stimulates the release of dopamine;
• Try listening to new music – unfamiliar tunes stimulate the brain, providing a new source of pleasure;
• Listen to music to motivate yourself to exercise;
• Don’t delay your hearing test if you notice problems;
• Compose music – it increases brain activity, giving a sense of self-respect;
• Try to compose music with other people by singing or playing an instrument. Or join a group – it gives a sense of cohesion and belonging.

Study #4: What kind of music to listen to when you are depressed

When you are depressed, sometimes you want to listen to sad music – in a peculiar way, to reach the bottom and quickly swim to the surface.
Sandra Garrido of the University of Western Sydney points out the following feature of depression: people lose motivation to change and stop thinking clearly. Their cognitive abilities are declining in several areas at once. Those who have a tendency to the clinical course of the disease react to music in different ways.
An experiment was conducted – several people were asked to independently choose two pieces of music: from which they are sad and which makes them happy. After studying the response, the researchers found that people who were particularly prone to rumination felt more depressed after listening to sad music.
Rumination, a frequent manifestation of depression, is a tendency to dwell on negative thoughts, get stuck and not be able to get rid of them. Apparently, listening to sad music only reinforces negative thinking. So if some people benefit from crying to Adele’s latest album, it will only hurt others.

In general, sad songs tended to make study participants feel worse. If for a healthy person this deviation is felt insignificantly, then people with depression only exacerbate the symptoms of the disease. But when listening to music that amuses and comforts, patients with depression showed a significant improvement in mood.
Studies show that music is more of an additional factor than a panacea in the treatment of depression.