The effects of music relaxation on sleep quality and emotional measures in people living with schizophrenia

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of music relaxation on insomnia and emotional measures in people living with schizophrenia. Twenty-four people living with schizophrenia participated in the study. The study involved a 7-day running-in no-treatment period, followed by a 7-day experimental period. Treatment consisted of music relaxation played at bedtime. During each of these periods, participants' sleep was continuously monitored with a wrist actigraph, and participants completed a wide spectrum of questionnaires. Results showed an improvement in sleep latency and sleep efficiency after the music relaxation was played. Likewise, music relaxation was shown to improve participants' total psychopathology score (PANSS) as well as their level of depression. Moreover, a significant correlation was found between reduction in level of situational anxiety and improvement in sleep efficiency. The findings suggest the beneficial effect of music relaxation as a treatment both for insomnia and for emotional measures in people living with schizophrenia.