The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of music on depression of the elders. A random controlled trail was used with a two-group pretest-posttest design. Fifty-four subjects aged from 60 to 85 with depression were recruited through the community leaders and nurses and interviewed and screened using the CES-D by the researchers. Subjects listened to their choice from among five 30-minute music items in the morning for 2 consecutive weeks, while the control group didn't receive any intervention. Two groups received home visits from researchers per week. Depression was measured with the CES-D scale before the study and at the posttest. While controlling for covariates (pretreatment depressive scores, self-rated health status, and social support), music therapy resulted in significantly lower depressive scores in the experimental group (F=78.40, p<.01), as well as significantly lower subscores of depression (depressed affect, somatic and retarded activity, negative affect and interpersonal disorder) as compared to the control group (all p<.01). These findings may provide evidence for the use of music as an empirically based intervention for depressed community-residing old people.
The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of music on depression of the elders. A random controlled trail was used with a two-group pretest-posttest design. Fifty-four subjects aged from 60 to 85 with depression were recruited through the community leaders and nurses and interviewed and screened using the CES-D by the researchers. Subjects listened to their choice from among five 30-minute music items in the morning for 2 consecutive weeks, while the control group didn't receive any intervention. Two groups received home visits from researchers per week. Depression was measured with the CES-D scale before the study and at the posttest. While controlling for covariates (pretreatment depressive scores, self-rated health status, and social support), music therapy resulted in significantly lower depressive scores in the experimental group (F=78.40, p<.01), as well as significantly lower subscores of depression (depressed affect, somatic and retarded activity, negative affect and interpersonal disorder) as compared to the control group (all p<.01). These findings may provide evidence for the use of music as an empirically based intervention for depressed community-residing old people.