J Korean Geriatr Psychiatry.  2021 Apr;25(1):30-35. 10.47825/jkgp.2021.25.1.30.

The Effect of Structured Music Therapy Program on Emotional Function in the Dementia Patients

• Jeon SJ
• Kang WS
• Lee SA
• Lee MA
• Park DH
• Kim JW

• KMID: 2515288
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.47825/jkgp.2021.25.1.30

Abstract

Objective
The effectiveness of music therapy programs for the elderly with dementia has been verified through several studies, but there is a limitation in that most of them are compared with a single group, no treatment group or waiting group. In this study, to overcome this problem, the two groups that performed similar interventions were selected and compared retrospectively.
Methods
For 37 people who participated in the treatment programs for the elderly with dementia at Dongdaemun Center for De-mentia and its branch center, we retrospectively analyzed the changes in Korean version of Geriatric Depression Scale and Geriatric Quality of Life Scale-Dementia scores measured before and after treatment.
Results
Prior to treatment, there is no significant difference between the groups in the demographic variables and the depression and quality of life scores. The difference between pre- and post-scores was not significant in the group at the branch center without a music therapy, but depression was significantly reduced and quality of life had improved in the group at Dongdaemun center with the music therapy program.
Conclusion
It was confirmed that participation in the structured music therapy program had a positive effect on the improve-ment of depression and quality of life in the elderly with dementia compared to other similar interventions.

Keyword

Dementia; Music therapy; Quality of life; Depression.