2006/11/01 by Nakul Talwar, Mike Crawford, Anna Maratos +3 · 1 citation
Psychology · Medicine · Arts and Humanities · #Music Therapy and Health #Schizophrenia research and treatment #Art Therapy and Mental Health
paper · pdf · doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.105.015073
openalex publication_date 2006/11/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04
BACKGROUND: Music therapy may provide a means of improving mental health among people with schizophrenia, but its effects in acute psychoses have not been explored. AIMS: To examine the feasibility of a randomised trial of music therapy for inpatients with schizophrenia, and explore its effects on mental health. METHOD: Up to 12 weeks of individual music therapy plus standard care were compared with standard care alone. Masked assessments of mental health, global functioning and satisfaction with care were conducted at 3 months. RESULTS: Of 115 eligible patients 81 (70%) were randomised. Two-thirds of those randomised to music therapy attended at least four sessions (median attendance, eight sessions). Multivariate analysis demonstrated a trend towards improved symptom scores among those randomised to music therapy, especially in general symptoms of schizophrenia. CONCLUSIONS: A randomised trial of music therapy for in-patients with schizophrenia is feasible. The effects and cost-effectiveness of music therapy for acute psychosis should be further explored in an explanatory randomised trial.