Music Therapy and Alzheimers

Citation: Zare, M., Ebrahimi, A. A., & Birashk, B. (2010). The effects of music therapy on reducing agitation in patients with alzheimers disease, a pre-post study. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 25(12), 1309-1310. doi:10.1002/gps.2450

Peer Reviewed?: Yes

Database: PsycINFO

Release Date:January 2011

Key Words: music therapy, agitation, patients, Alzheimer’s disease, nursing homes

Test and Measure: Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory, Mini Mental State Examination

Methodology: Empirical Study, Quantitative Study

Document URL: http://remote.libproxy.wlu.ca/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/851232691?accountid=15090

Abstract: The effects of music therapy on reducing agitation in patients with alzheimers disease, a pre-post study.

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of various methods of music therapy on reducing agitation in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The sample consisted of 26 AD patients from Behzisti of city of Shahriar who lived in four nursing homes. They were selected according to DSM IV criteria and Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) scores. Ten patients were assigned to control group and 16 to experimental group. The experimental group was divided into four sub-groups. Although the sample size of the study does not allow us to generalize these findings to general population, we found that music therapy has positive effects on reducing agitation, which is one of the most intrusive behaviors in AD. This result is consistent with some previous studies. This study suggests that if nursing homes or other caring centers use music therapy as a daily program for people with AD, it may reduce intrusive behaviors in patients and decrease the levels of stress and burnout in caregivers. Better quality of life is another probable outcome. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)