The effect of traditional music on mental status of chronic schizophrenic patients: a clinical trial study

Background and aims: Music therapy is a simple and inexpensive method for the treatment of some psychiatric disorders. The aim of thisstudy was to determine the effect of traditional music on the mental state of hospitalized chronic schizophrenia patients.Methods: In this clinical trial, ۳۰ schizophrenia patients in the intervention group received routine treatment and attended music therapysessions and ۳۰ patients in the control group received routine treatment alone. Group music therapy sessions with traditional music wereconducted ۵ times a week for ۲ months. Demographic questionnaire and Andreasen’s positive and negative symptoms questionnaireswere completed at baseline and after the completion of music therapy sessions. Data analysis was conducted in SPSS version ۱۶.۰ usingindependent and paired t tests.Results: The mean scores of delusion (P = ۰.۰۰۱) and bizarre behavior (P = ۰.۰۳۶) and the total score of the SAPS (P = ۰.۰۰۱) significantlydecreased after intervention in the music therapy group. However, in the control group, the differences in the total and individual domainscores of the SAPS were not significant (P > ۰.۰۵). There was no significant difference between the control and music therapy groups inthe total and individual domain scores of the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) before and after the intervention(P > ۰.۰۵). Additionally, before and after the study, the mean score of avolition in the music therapy group was significantly lower comparedto the control group (P = ۰.۰۳). The mean score of alogia in the music therapy group was significantly lower compared to the control group(P = ۰.۰۱).Conclusion: Music therapy is effective in improving most of the positive symptoms of schizophrenia and some of its negative aspects, andtherefore can be used as a complementary therapy along with drug therapy.

Keywords:

Schizophrenia , Positive symptoms , Negative symptoms , Music therapy