Effects of music assisted drug treatment on behavioral and psychological symptoms and cognitive function in the elderly with moderate to severe dementia
10.11886/scjsws20240418001
- VernacularTitle:音乐辅助药物治疗对中重度老年痴呆患者精神行为症状及认知功能的影响
- Author:
Cairun LUO
1
;
Hongyan MI
1
;
Ying YANG
1
;
Jiaqi LI
2
;
Xiaobin YANG
1
Author Information
1. Deyang Mental Health Center， Deyang 618000， China
2. West China Hospital， Sichuan University， Chengdu 610021， China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Music assisted drug intervention;
Dementia;
Behavioral and psychological symptoms;
Cognitive function
- From:
Sichuan Mental Health
2025;38(3):235-240
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
BackgroundWith the acceleration of population aging in China， studies have documented an increased prevalence of dementia in the elderly. Behavioral and psychological symptoms and impaired cognitive function are important problems affecting the quality of life in the elderly with dementia. It has been noted that there are certain limitations on the management of problems mentioned above by drug treatment alone， while its combination with music intervention is emerging as an effective approach. However， the application of this approach in the elderly with moderate to severe dementia is still in its relative infancy. ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of music assisted drug treatment on behavioral and psychological symptoms and cognitive function in the elderly with moderate to severe dementia， so as to provide insights for the development of effective intervention. MethodsA randomized controlled study was utilized to enroll a coherent of 43 elderly patients with moderate to severe dementia who were hospitalized in Geriatric Psychiatry of Deyang Mental Health Center from January to July 2023 and met the International Classification of Diseases， tenth edition （ICD-10） diagnostic criteria for dementia. Eligible subjects were divided into study group （n=22） and control group （n=21） based on random allocation using SPSS 26.0. Both groups received routine drug treatment and nursing care， while the study group added music intervention， which consisted of two 30-minute sessions per week for 8 weeks. Neuro Psychiatric Inventory （NPI） and Mini-Mental State Examination （MMSE） were administered to all patients before and after intervention. ResultsA total of 36 patients completed the study， including 20 case in study group and 16 case in control group. No statistical difference was noted in baseline NPI score and MMSE score between two groups （P>0.05）. After intervention， study group reported a statistical reduction in NPI total score ［58.00 （49.00， 79.25） vs. 78.50 （55.00， 95.50）， Z=-3.902， P<0.01）］ along with a clinically unremarkable increase in MMSE score （P>0.05） compared with baseline data. After intervention， NPI total score and scores on sub-domains including agitation/aggression， depression/dysphoria， anxiety and aberrant motor behavior were all significantly lower in study group than those in control group （Z=-2.183， -2.438， -2.691， -3.716， -2.250， P<0.05 or 0.01）， while there was no significant difference in MMSE score between two groups （P>0.05）. ConclusionMusic assisted drugintervention may ameliorate behavioral and psychological symptoms in the elderly with moderate to severe dementia， while no significant improvement is documented on cognitive function. ［Fund by the "14th Five Year Plan" for Philosophy and Social Sciences Research in Deyang （number， DY232C002）］
