[Active music therapy for senile depression]

Abstract

68 cases with senile depression were divided randomly into two groups--test group and control group. Patients of both groups received same antidepressive drugs while for the patients in the test group active music therapy was provided everyday in addition and the course of music therapy was 8 weeks. Patients in the test group showed improvement of their symptoms at the end of first week while most patients in the control group were getting somewhat better at the 3rd-4th week. The effectiveness of combined treatment in the test group is better than that in the control group. Patients in the test group became calm and active and the atmosphere on the ward appeared to be somewhat harmonized so that it was beneficial to the nursing care.