Music Therapy may Ease Depression

Music may be just what the doctor ordered for patients with depression. A systematic review from the Cochrane Library finds music therapy may help some patients fight depression and improve their health.
Cochrane researchers analysed five studies that met their criteria — four reported a greater reduction in depression symptoms among patients using music therapy compared to those in a therapy group without music; the fifth study did not find this effect.
“While the evidence came from a few small studies, it suggests that this is an area that is well worth further investigation and, if the use of music therapy is supported by future trials, we need to find out which forms have greatest effect,” lead author Anna Maratos, arts therapist for the National Health Service in London, was quoted as saying. “The current studies indicate that music therapy may be able to improve mood and has low drop-out rates.”
About 121 million people are believed to suffer from depression worldwide. Symptoms include changes in appetite, poor sleep, low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness and guilt. Depression can lead to suicide and is associated with one million deaths a year.

SOURCE: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2008;1:CD004517