Effects of Integrating Music Therapy into Family Support System on Adolescent Depression

This study aims to investigate the effects and feasibility of integrating music therapy into a family support system (FSS) for adolescent depression.

In this retrospective study, 120 adolescents with depression who visited the Wenzhou Seventh People's Hospital between June 2022 and June 2024 were selected and categorized into the music therapy group and a conventional group (60 cases in each group). The conventional group received FSS-assisted treatment and conventional medication, whereas the music therapy group was given music therapy based on the conventional treatment. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), Family Assessment Device (FAD), Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Checklist (ASLEC), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were compared between the two groups.

After treatment, the decrease in HAMD and HAMA scores was significantly greater in the music therapy group than in the conventional group (P < 0.05). The FAD score in the music therapy group improved more significantly in dimensions such as problem-solving, communication, emotional involvement, behavior control, and overall function than that of the conventional group (P < 0.05). The ASLEC score showed a greater reduction in aspects such as interpersonal relationships, academic stress, punishment, and loss (P < 0.05). The PSQI score improved more significantly with regard to subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, sleep disorders, hypnotic drug use, and daytime dysfunction (P < 0.05).

Integrating music therapy into FSS can effectively reduce depression and anxiety symptoms in adolescents with depression, improve the family and psychosocial function, and enhance sleep quality. However, further studies are still needed to verify and improve this approach.