Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-qsmjn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-23T08:21:10.085Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Review of the effect of music interventions on symptoms of anxiety and depression in older adults with mild dementia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 April 2015

Darina Petrovsky ,
Pamela Z. Cacchione  and
Maureen George
Darina Petrovsky*
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, 418 Curie Blvd., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Pamela Z. Cacchione
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, 418 Curie Blvd., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Maureen George
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, 418 Curie Blvd., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Darina V. Petrovsky, PhD Student, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, 418 Curie Blvd., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Email: dmolkina@nursing.upenn.edu.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background:

Treatment of anxiety and depression, the most common psychiatric symptoms in older adults with mild dementia, requires innovative approaches due to the high cost and significant side effects associated with traditional pharmacological interventions. Alternative non-pharmacological therapies, such as music, when used in conjunction with pharmacological treatment, have the potential to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression in older adults diagnosed with mild dementia. The purpose of this review was to examine the evidence of music's efficacy in improving symptoms of anxiety and depression in older adults with mild dementia.

Methods:

Four databases (Medline, CINAHL, PsychInfo, PubMed) were searched using the terms “music,” “music therapy,” “music intervention,” “singing,” “dementia,” “anxiety,” and/or “depression,” identifying ten studies that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Results:

The poor methodological rigor of the studies precluded reaching consensus on the efficacy of a music intervention in alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression in older adults with mild dementia.

Conclusions:

There was inconclusive evidence as to whether music interventions are effective in alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression in older adults with mild dementia due to the poor methodological rigor. However, with improved designs guided by a deeper understanding of how music engages the aging brain, music may emerge as an important adjunct therapy to improving the lives of older adults with mild dementia.

Keywords

musicdementiaanxietydepressionolder adultsaged
Type
Review Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 27 , Special Issue 10: Psychosocial and Ethical Aspects of Dementia , October 2015 , pp. 1661 - 1670
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adams-Wendling, L., Pimple, C., Adams, S. and Titler, M. G. (2008). Nursing management of hearing impairment in nursing facility residents. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 34, 9–17.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
American Music Therapy Association (2013). What is music therapy? Available at: http://www.musictherapy.org/; last accessed March 1, 2014.Google Scholar
American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edn. DSM-5. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association.Google Scholar
Ashida, S. (2000). The effect of reminiscence music therapy sessions on changes in depressive symptoms in elderly persons with dementia. Journal of Music Therapy, 37, 170–182.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Banerjee, S.et al. (2013). Study of the use of antidepressants for depression in dementia: the HTA-SADD trial-a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of sertraline and mirtazapine. Health Technology Assessment (Winchester, England), 17, 1–166. doi:10.3310/hta17070; 10.3310/hta17070.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Camic, P., Williams, M., Myferi, C. and Meeten, F. (2013). Does a ‘Singing together group’ improve the quality of life of people with a dementia and their carers? A pilot evaluation study. Dementia, 12, 157–176. doi:10.1177/1471301211422761.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ceccato, E.et al. (2012). STAM protocol in dementia: a multicenter, single-blind, randomized, and controlled trial. American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, 27, 301–310. doi:10.1177/1533317512452038.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (2012). CMS nursing home data compendium. Available at: http://www.aanac.org/docs/reference-documents/nursinghomedatacompendium_508.pdf?sfvrsn=2; last accessed February 14, 2014.Google Scholar
Cheng, S. T., Chow, P. K., Edwin, C. S. and Chan, A. C. (2012). Leisure activities alleviate depressive symptoms in nursing home residents with very mild or mild dementia. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 20, 904–908.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Choi, A. N., Lee, M. S., Cheong, K. J. and Lee, J. S. (2009). Effects of group music intervention on behavioral and psychological symptoms in patients with dementia: a pilot-controlled trial. The International Journal of Neuroscience, 119, 471–481. doi:10.1080/00207450802328136.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chu, H.et al. (2014). The impact of group music therapy on depression and cognition in elderly persons with dementia: a randomized controlled study. Biological Research for Nursing, 16, 209–217. doi:10.1177/1099800413485410.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cooke, M., Moyle, W., Shum, D. H., Harrison, S. D. and Murfield, J. E. (2010a). A randomized controlled trial exploring the effect of music on agitated behaviours and anxiety in older people with dementia. Aging and Mental Health, 14, 905–916. doi:10.1080/13607861003713190.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cooke, M., Moyle, W., Shum, D., Harrison, S. and Murfield, J. (2010b). A randomized controlled trial exploring the effect of music on quality of life and depression in older people with dementia. Journal of Health Psychology, 15, 765–776. doi:10.1177/1359105310368188.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
de Medeiros, K. and Basting, A. (2013). “Shall I compare thee to a dose of donepezil?”: cultural arts interventions in dementia care research. The Gerontologist, 54, 344–353. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnt055.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Drageset, J., Eide, G. E. and Ranhoff, A. H. (2011). Depression is associated with poor functioning in activities of daily living among nursing home residents without cognitive impairment. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 20, 3111–3118. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2010.03663.x.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fritze, F., Ehrt, U., Hortobagyi, T., Ballard, C. and Aarsland, D. (2011). Depressive symptoms in Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia: a one-year follow-up study. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 32, 143–149. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000332016.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Han, P.et al. (2010). A controlled naturalistic study on a weekly music therapy and activity program on disruptive and depressive behaviors in dementia. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 30, 540–546. doi: 10.1159/000321668.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hynninen, M. J., Breitve, M. H., Rongve, A., Aarsland, D. and Nordhus, I. H. (2012). The frequency and correlates of anxiety in patients with first-time diagnosed mild dementia. International Psychogeriatrics, 24, 1771–1778. doi: 10.1017/S1041610212001020.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kang, H. Y., Bae, Y. S., Kim, E. H., Lee, K. S., Chae, M. J. and Ju, R. A. (2010). An integrated dementia intervention for Korean older adults. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 48, 42–50. doi:10.3928/02793695-20100930-01.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Langer, S. K., (1966). The cultural importance of the arts. Journal of Aesthetic Education, 1, 5–12.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Levin, C. A., Wei, W., Akincigil, A., Lucas, J. A., Bilder, S. and Crystal, S. (2007). Prevalence and treatment of diagnosed depression among elderly nursing home residents in Ohio. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 8, 585–594. doi: http://proxy.library.upenn.edu:2110/10.1016/j.jamda.2007.07.010.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McCabe, M. P., Davison, T., Mellor, D., George, K., Moore, K. and Ski, C. (2006). Depression among older people with cognitive impairment: prevalence and detection. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 21, 633–644. doi: 10.1002/gps.1538.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (2013). Complementary, alternative, or integrative health: what's in a name? Available at: https://nccih.nih.gov/health/whatiscam; last accessed February 1, 2014.Google Scholar
Neville, C. and Teri, L. (2011). Anxiety, anxiety symptoms, and associations among older people with dementia in assisted-living facilities. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 20, 195–201. doi: 10.1111/j.1447-0349.2010.00724.x.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Onega, L. L. (2006). Assessment of psychoemotional and behavioral status in patients with dementia. Nursing Clinics of North America, 41, 23–41. doi: http://proxy.library.upenn.edu:2110/10.1016/j.cnur.2005.09.003.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Press, D. and Alexander, M. (2013). Treatment of behavioral symptoms related to dementia. In DeKosky, S., (ed.). UpToDate. Available at: http://www.uptodate.com/contents/treatment-of-behavioral-symptoms-related-to-dementia?source=see_link; last accessed February 1, 2014.Google Scholar
Prince, M., Jackson, J. and Guerchet, M. (2013). World Alzheimer Report. Available at: http://www.alz.co.uk/research/WorldAlzheimerReport2013.pdf; last accessed March 2 2014.Google Scholar
Raglio, A.et al. (2012). Music, music therapy and dementia: a review of literature and the recommendations of the Italian psychogeriatric association. Maturitas, 72, 305–310. doi: http://proxy.library.upenn.edu:2110/10.1016/j.maturitas.2012.05.016.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Seignourel, P. J., Kunik, M. E., Snow, L., Wilson, N. and Stanley, M. (2008). Anxiety in dementia: a critical review. Clinical Psychology Review, 28, 1071–1082. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2008.02.008.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smalbrugge, M., Pot, A. M., Jongenelis, K., Beekman, A. T. F. and Eefsting, J. A. (2005). Prevalence and correlates of anxiety among nursing home patients. Journal of Affective Disorders, 88, 145–153. doi: http://proxy.library.upenn.edu:2110/10.1016/j.jad.2005.06.006.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Spiro, N. (2010). Music and dementia: observing effects and searching for underlying theories. Aging and Mental Health, 14, 891–899. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2010.519328.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sung, H. C., Lee, W. L., Li, T. L. and Watson, R. (2012). A group music intervention using percussion instruments with familiar music to reduce anxiety and agitation of institutionalized older adults with dementia. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 27, 621–627. doi: 10.1002/gps.2761.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Suzuki, M.et al. (2004). Behavioral and endocrinological evaluation of music therapy for elderly patients with dementia. Nursing and Health Sciences, 6, 11–18.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Teri, L.et al. (1999). Anxiety of Alzheimer's disease: prevalence, and comorbidity. The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 54, M348–52.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ueda, T., Suzukamo, Y., Sato, M. and Izumi, S. (2013). Effects of music therapy on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ageing Research Reviews, 12, 628–641. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2013.02.003.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vink, A. C., Birks, J. S., Bruinsma, M. S. and Scholten, R. J. (2004). Music therapy for people with dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (Online), (3), CD003477. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003477.pub2.Google ScholarPubMed
Wolitzky-Taylor, K. B., Castriotta, N., Lenze, E. J., Stanley, M. A. and Craske, M. G. (2010). Anxiety disorders in older adults: a comprehensive review. Depression and Anxiety, 27, 190–211. doi: 10.1002/da.20653.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
World Health Organization (2013). Dementia: a public health priority. Available at: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2012/9789241564458_eng.pdf.Google Scholar
Yu, F., Nelson, N. W., Savik, K., Wyman, J. F., Dysken, M. and Bronas, U. G. (2013). Affecting cognition and quality of life via aerobic exercise in Alzheimer's disease. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 35, 24–38. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0193945911420174.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed