By: Melissa Heffner, MT-BC A group of researchers from Taiwan wanted to test the effectiveness of music therapy in a group setting in maintaining cognitive function and improving depression in elderly persons with dementia. Their article, “The Impact of Group Music Therapy on Depression and Cognition in Elderly Persons With Dementia: A Randomized Control Study,” appeared in Biological Research for Nursing in 2014. Previous research has shown music therapy to be an effective way to delay cognitive deterioration and reduce depression and anxiety in elderly persons with dementia. These researchers wished to include participants who were more than 82 years old as well as use both biochemical and psychosocial measures.…
By: Jessica Schlabach, MT-BC There are many challenges a person can face when receiving treatment for an addiction. One of these challenges may be facing depression. Music therapy can be a positive means to deal with newfound emotions, depression, and the struggle of alcohol withdrawal. Depression often accompanies drug or alcohol dependence. Michael Silverman found in his 2011 article “Effects of Music Therapy on Change and Depression on Clients in Detoxification” in Journal of Addictions Nursing that music therapy songwriting groups had slightly lower depression scores than a typical verbal processing group. In this study, the researcher conducted music therapy songwriting groups focused on change. Most of the people in…