Effect of group music therapy combined with routine nursing on emotional stability in inpatients with manic episodes

Patients experiencing manic episodes often suffer from significant emotional instability, impairing treatment adherence and prolonging hospitalization. Nonpharmacological interventions such as music therapy may offer additional benefits. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of group music therapy combined with routine nursing on emotional stability, symptom severity, and patient satisfaction in inpatients with manic episodes. In this retrospective study, 102 inpatients diagnosed with manic episodes between January 2022 and December 2023 were enrolled and divided into a control group (n = 50) receiving routine nursing care and an observation group (n = 52) receiving additional group music therapy. Group music sessions were held 3 times weekly for 4 weeks. The Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), the Emotional Stability subscale of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ-ES), and patient satisfaction were assessed before and after intervention. Statistical comparisons were performed within and between groups. At baseline, there were no significant differences between groups in age, gender, illness duration, YMRS, or EPQ-ES scores. After intervention, the observation group showed significantly lower YMRS scores (15.2 ± 3.7 vs 21.6 ± 4.1, P < .001), higher EPQ-ES scores (28.5 ± 5.2 vs 22.3 ± 5.0, P < .001), and greater satisfaction (86.5% vs 64.0%, P = .012) compared to the control group. Group music therapy significantly enhances emotional stability and satisfaction among hospitalized manic patients. This intervention is a feasible and effective supplement to routine psychiatric nursing care.