The Effectiveness of Music Therapy on Depressive Symptoms and Suicidal Behaviors in Adolescents

• Main Authors: Rou-Ting Lin, 林柔廷
• Other Authors: Hsiu-Ju Chang
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/93536084806223244740

碩士 === 臺北醫學大學 === 護理學研究所 === 98 === Purpose: This study was aimed to explore how music therapy would benefit the depressive symptoms, suicide bahavior, the cognitive triad of depression and anxiety symptoms in adolescents. Moreover, this study also explores how group music therapy featuring progressive muscle relaxation method would help adolescents improve HRV index (heart rate variability). Method: A experimental research design was used in this study. Students subjects were recruited from a Taipei-city public high school. After questionnaire screening was conducted, the students meeting the definition of high risk group of suicide or depression were randomly assigned to the experiment and control groups. Music group therapeutic intervention was conducted in the experimental group. Students in the control group only received regular school routines. After music therapy project ended, post-tests were conducted to compare how experimental group would benefit from music group therapeutic intervention and also to compare symptom improvement differences between experimental and control groups. Results: This study included 38 subjectss in total with 14 students in the experimental group and 24 one in the control. After music group therapy intervention had been applied on the experimental group, the scores of the Life Attitude Scale (LAS), and its subscales, Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) dropped significantly and the scores of the cognitive triad for Children (CTI-C) increased significantly. The scores of each scale of the experimental group are all better than those in the control group (p＜0.05). Music therapy featuring progressive muscle relaxation method has surly contributed to significant reductions in heart rate variability(HRV), LF indicator, and ratio between LF/HF (p＜0.05) and significant increase in HF indicator (p＜0.05). Conclusions: Music group therapy can benefit depressive symptoms, suicide behavior, cognitive triad and anxiety symptoms in adolescents with depression and suicide risk. Physiological relaxation can really be achieved by selection of soft music featuring progressive muscle relaxation method instructed orally by therapist. It is hereby suggested that music group therapy shall be offered for adolescents suffering the tendency of depression and suicide in school so as to not only help adolescents improve emotional problems, reduce suicide risk but also assist adolescents in reducing perceived stress confronted during daily life.