Effect of Musical Intervention in the Treatment of Behavioral, Psychological and Cognitive Problems in Patients with Dementia

As the number of demented patients is growing rapidly and pharmacological intervention is not always effective, more research is needed on non-pharmacological interventions, including music. Previous meta-analyses have not been able to determine if music interventions have a positive effect on behavioral, cognitive, and psychological problems of demented patients. The purpose of this review was to update earlier findings and investigate the extent to which music intervention is effective in the treatment of demented patients. Eighteen studies were included in this meta-analysis, with a total of 533 dementia patients. Both pretest-posttest and controlexperimental group design studies were included, but analyzed separately. The mean effect sizes across these studies were computed and compared. However, the reach of meta-analysis was found to be limited, because a large proportion of music intervention studies have poor methodological quality, and reasonable inclusion criteria leave small samples of studies. We conclude that meta-analyses need to include unpublished studies with larger groups of participants. Music therapy is today a widespread treatment for a wide range of psychological, psychiatric, and physical conditions. It is defined as “a therapeutic medium to address developmental, adaptive, and rehabilitative goals in the areas of psychosocial, cognitive, and sensorimotor behavior of individuals with disabilities” (Hallam, Cross, & Thaut, 2009). The World Federation of Music Therapy describes music therapy as a use of its musical elements (sound, rhythm, melody and harmony) by a qualified music therapist, with a client or group, in a process designed to facilitate and promote therapeutic objectives mentioned above (WFMT, 2010, according to Vink, Bruinsma & Scholten, 2004). Music therapist as a profession was established in 1950. Music therapy and other music interventions such as music listening are widely used both as alternative and supplementary treatment to pharmacological cure. One condition for which music therapy is frequently used is dementia, with the goal of improving everyday functioning of people affected by cognitive deterioration. Because dementia affects a large proportion of elderly population, and music therapy is frequently used for these people, it is important to evaluate the effects of this practice. At the same time a relatively large number of studies addressing these effects are likely to be found that expresses even more a growing interest in this research area. The purpose of the present work is therefore systematically review the effects of music