Preprint / Version 1

Harmonizing Hope: Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Music For Alleviating Depression

##article.authors##

  • Samuel Wagman N/A

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.529

Keywords:

music therapy, depression, treatment

Abstract

Depression, a pervasive and debilitating mental illness affecting approximately 5% of adults globally, necessitates effective treatment modalities beyond traditional pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy due to their limitations. Music therapy has emerged as a promising adjunctive approach, leveraging the unique capacity of music to evoke a wide range of emotional, physiological, and cognitive responses. This review paper explores the therapeutic potential of music in alleviating depression by examining the influence of various musical genres on mood and well-being. This review paper aims to synthesize existing empirical research to evaluate the effectiveness of different musical genres in depression treatment. By shedding light on the advantages and disadvantages associated with various genres, this work seeks to guide medical practitioners, music therapists, and individuals with depression in selecting music that optimally enhances mood. Furthermore, this paper identifies knowledge gaps and recommends areas for further investigation. These research avenues can contribute to evidence-based recommendations for the use of music as a therapeutic intervention for depression, promoting its integration into comprehensive treatment strategies. Ultimately, this review paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge regarding music therapy for depression and offers a roadmap for future research in this promising field.

References

Ashida, S. (2000, October 1). The effect of reminiscence music therapy sessions on changes in depressive symptoms in elderly persons with dementia. OUP Academic. https://academic.oup.com/jmt/article-abstract/37/3/170/898443

Blood, A. J., & Zatorre, R. J. (2001, September 25). Intensely pleasurable responses to music correlate with activity in brain regions implicated in reward and emotion. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC58814/

Music therapy for depression - aalbers, S - 2017 | Cochrane Library. (n.d.). https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004517.pub3/abstract

Erkkilä, J., Punkanen, M., Fachner, J., Ala-Ruona, E., Pöntiö, I., Tervaniemi, M., Vanhala, M., & Gold, C. (2018, January 2). Individual music therapy for depression: Randomised controlled trial: The British Journal of Psychiatry. Cambridge Core. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/individual-music-therapy-for-depression-randomized-pressed-trial/A1CD72904929CECCB956F4F3B09605AF

Guétin, S., Portet, F., Picot, M. C., Pommié, C., Messaoudi, M., Djabelkir, L., Olsen, A. L., Cano, M. M., Lecourt, E., & Touchon, J. (2009, July 23). Effect of music therapy on anxiety and depression in patients with alzheimer’s type dementia: Randomised, controlled study. Karger Publishers. https://karger.com/dem/article-abstract/28/1/36/98894/Effect-of-Music-Therapy-on-Anxiety-and-Depression

Hanser, S. B., & Thompson, L. W. (1994, November 1). Effects of a music therapy strategy on depressed older adults. OUP Academic. https://academic.oup.com/geronj/article-abstract/49/6/P265/693065

Juslin, P. N., Liljeström, S., Västfjäll, D., & Lundqvist, L. O. (2010). How does music evoke emotions? Exploring the underlying mechanisms.

Maratos, A., Gold, C., Wang, X., & Crawford, M. (2008, January 23). Music therapy for depression - maratos, A - 2008: Cochrane Library. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004517.pub2/abstract

Robinson, J. (1994). The expression and arousal of emotion in music. The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, 52(1), 13-22.

Downloads

Posted

2023-10-02