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Music therapy for in-patients with schizophrenia: exploratory randomised controlled trial
Nakul Talwar1, Mike J Crawford, Anna Maratos
1Department of Psychological Medicine, Claybrook Centre, St Dunstan's Road, London W6 8RP, UK.
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.
