Doctors used music instead of medication:
Researchers at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust have piloted a music therapy approach called MELODIC, across two NHS dementia wards.
More alternatives to psychotropic medication are needed to support dementia patients who experience severe distress.
The pilot study involved a music therapist being embedded on hospital wards, the delivery of clinical music sessions and the implementation of musical care plans for each patient, and results from the research have now been published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry.
Music therapy, delivered by trained therapists, can include singing, playing or listening to music. The therapist can also identify specific ways that music can be used by families and carers in an individual's daily care routine.
During the study, patient data suggested a slight improvement in quality-of-life scores among patients and a reduction in the severity of distress symptoms and disruptiveness, although agitation scores increased slightly.
There were no increases in routinely reported incidents, and no adverse events related to music therapy interventions were reported. This is relevant for future research on mental health dementia wards where limited studies have been conducted to date.
Lead author Naomi Thompson, a researcher at the Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), said: "People with dementia on inpatient mental health wards are often experiencing very high levels of distress, and staff are under immense pressure to manage this in ways that are safe and compassionate.
"Our study yielded promising results and importantly showed that the MELODIC tool can be used effectively in these highly complex settings, giving an alternative option to current ways of managing severe distress, such as psychotropic medication."
Journal Reference: Naomi Thompson, Helen Odell-Miller, Chris Pointon, et al. Music therapy embedded in the life of dementia inpatient care to help prevent and manage distress: a feasibility study to inform a future trial. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2025; 16 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1618324
(Score: 4, Interesting) by AnonTechie on Friday July 25, @03:02PM (5 children)
It is great to hear about such therapy. Anything that can reduce their distress and bring more meaning to their life is indeed welcome.
Albert Einstein - "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
(Score: 3, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 25, @05:30PM
Yeah, except now you're going to see ASCAP fees on your bill. Will Medicare cover that? The meds might be cheaper
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 25, @08:49PM (3 children)
At some level music therapy has been available in memory care (dementia) wards in USA nursing homes for many years. I know (slightly) a woman who does the therapy, she works in several different nursing homes that are all owned by the same company (part time in each different facility). I think she mostly plays recorded music, but may also do sing alongs.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by JoeMerchant on Friday July 25, @09:04PM (1 child)
The thing about live music is that it stimulates all kinds of pathways that recordings don't. Mirror neurons, social empathy, imperfections - all do something very different than just listening to "Barbara Ann" for the 9,000th time.
🌻🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 25, @10:09PM
> listening to "Barbara Ann" for the 9,000th time.
listening to "409" for the 9,000th time still gets my adrenaline going, just say'n.
(Score: 2) by driverless on Saturday July 26, @02:50AM
It's been used outside the US as well for a long time, depending on what you class as "music therapy". The form typically used here is to have someone come in a few times a week, play the piano, and conduct sing-alongs. Seems to cheer people up quite a bit.
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 25, @03:55PM (3 children)
Not "instead of". More accurately, "in addition to".
(Score: 4, Insightful) by JoeMerchant on Friday July 25, @07:56PM (2 children)
>Not "instead of". More accurately, "in addition to".
Can't piss off the funding sources too badly...
Physiotherapy, music, visual stimulation, even smells and tastes - they all keep the neurons firing and reinforcing functional pathways. Use it or lose it.
🌻🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 25, @10:48PM (1 child)
Pentecostal churches do music therapy all the time.
They get people all worked up, all a singin' and a swayin' , then pass the plate before the effect wears off.
( For quite some time, I thought Pente Cost meant they passed the plate five times per service )
Anyway, it took the brazenness of a few TV preachers to demonstrate to me how to make the distinction between Religion and Spirituality. Religion gets a lot of people mad with each other and will make their leaders rich and powerful. Spirituality is for those seeking out our maker. Once I got that straightened out, I found peace.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Saturday July 26, @06:21PM
>Spirituality is for those seeking out our maker. Once I got that straightened out, I found peace.
I don't know what label to put on him, but Lhamo Thondup seems to have nailed the whole "why are we here, what should we do to promote our own happiness/peace?" thing better than most seekers of our maker have ever articulated to me.
https://www.dalailama.com/teachings [dalailama.com]
🌻🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2) by Snospar on Friday July 25, @11:56PM
... there is no God you insensitive clod!
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