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. 2024 Feb 11;14(2):351-367.
doi: 10.3390/ejihpe14020024.

Multifaceted Music Therapy for Depression in Dementia: A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Berne Ting  1 , Daniel Tzu-Li Chen  2   3   4   5 , Wei-Ti Hsu  5   6 , Chia-Lin Tsai  5 , Ikbal Andrian Malau  2   5 , Sheau-Ling Lee  7 , Li Jingling  5
Affiliations

Multifaceted Music Therapy for Depression in Dementia: A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Berne Ting et al. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ. .

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of various music therapy interventions in ameliorating depressive symptoms in dementia patients, utilizing a network meta-analysis approach. We rigorously selected randomized controlled trials focused on music therapy for dementia with depressive symptoms from major electronic databases. The primary outcome measured was the impact on depressive symptoms, with the secondary outcome evaluating dropout rates across different intervention groups and standard care control groups. The research protocol has been duly registered with PROSPERO (Registration ID: CRD42023393059). Our network meta-analysis incorporated 14 randomized controlled trials involving a total of 1080 participants and examined a range of interventions, including active music therapy, listening to music, rhythmic music therapy, singing, and tailored music interventions. The analysis revealed that active music therapy combined with singing emerged as the most effective intervention, demonstrating a significant improvement in depressive symptoms in dementia patients (Standardized Mean Difference [SMD] = -0.89, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: -1.48 to -0.30). In contrast, listening to music alone showed a smaller effect (SMD = -0.26, 95% CI: -0.71 to 0.20). This study was particularly noteworthy for not showing higher dropout rates compared to standard care, indicating its feasibility and acceptability in clinical settings. The findings of our study indicate that active music therapy combined with singing is an effective approach to reducing depressive symptoms in dementia patients, potentially due to enhanced social interaction. These results offer new perspectives for dementia care, suggesting a promising direction for further research and clinical application.

Keywords: dementia; depression; music therapy; randomized controlled trials.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart illustrating the study selection process, aligned with PRISMA guidelines.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Network diagram illustrating the impact of various music interventions on improving post-activity depression in dementia. The size of each node and the thickness of each line indicate the quantity of trials incorporated in our study. Abbreviations: AMT: Active Music Therapy; RMT: Rhythmic Music Therapy; LtM: Listening to Music; TMI: Tailored Music Intervention.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Forest plots illustrating the standardized mean difference (SMD) in depression improvement between different music therapy interventions and control groups in elderly individuals with dementia after the intervention period.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Forest plots depicting the risk difference (RD) in dropout rates between different music therapy interventions and control groups for patients with dementia after the intervention period.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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Grants and funding

This study did not receive any dedicated grants from public, commercial, or not-for-profit funding organizations.

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