Cochrane · systematic review · CD004517
Music therapy for depression
Aalbers, S, Fusar‐Poli, L, Freeman, RE, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2017 · Cochrane Library
Common Mental DisordersAMSTAR 2: not assessed
SoF tableOnly the outcomes this review put in its Summary of Findings table are listed (the Cochrane Handbook caps them at about seven per comparison). Its other analyses are not shown here.
Questions
21
current version
GRADE rated
15
No studies
6
Included studies
NR
No studies 6 · 28.6%Ungraded 0 · 0%Very low 6 · 28.6%Low 5 · 23.8%Moderate 4 · 19%High 0 · 0%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
Questions and results
Music therapy plus treatment as usual (TAU) versus TAU for depression (primary comparison)
Population: individuals with depression
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Depressive symptoms (clinician‐rated) (various scales) Up to 3 months Music therapy plus treatment as usual (TAU) vs TAU | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 219 participants | Moderate Downgraded: risk of bias |
Depressive symptoms (patient‐reported) (various scales) Up to 3 months Music therapy plus treatment as usual (TAU) vs TAU | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 142 participants | Moderate Downgraded: risk of bias |
Any adverse events Up to 3 months Music therapy plus treatment as usual (TAU) vs TAU | OR 0.45 [0.02, 11.46] | 1 study · 79 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency |
Functioning (GAF) Up to 3 months Music therapy plus treatment as usual (TAU) vs TAU | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 67 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency |
Quality of life (RAND‐36) Up to 3 months Music therapy plus treatment as usual (TAU) vs TAU | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 67 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency |
Leaving the study early Up to 3 months Music therapy plus treatment as usual (TAU) vs TAU | OR 0.49 [0.14, 1.7] | 5 studies · 293 participants | Moderate Downgraded: risk of bias |
Anxiety (HADS‐A) Up to 3 months Music therapy plus treatment as usual (TAU) vs TAU | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 195 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Music therapy versus psychological treatment for depression
Population: adults with depression
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Depressive symptoms (clinician‐rated) (MADRS) Up to 3 months Music therapy vs psychological treatment | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 11 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Depressive symptoms (patient‐reported) (various scales) Up to 3 months Music therapy vs psychological treatment | no estimate extracted | 4 studies · 131 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Any adverse events ‐ not reported Music therapy vs psychological treatment | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Functioning ‐ not reported Music therapy vs psychological treatment | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Quality of life (Thai RAND‐36) Up to 3 months Music therapy vs psychological treatment | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 11 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Leaving the study early Up to 3 months Music therapy vs psychological treatment | OR 0.17 [0.02, 1.49] | 4 studies · 157 participants | Moderate Downgraded: risk of bias |
Anxiety ‐ not reported Music therapy vs psychological treatment | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Active music therapy versus receptive music therapy for depression
Population: adults with depression
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Depressive symptoms (clinician‐rated) (MADRS) Up to 3 months Active music therapy vs receptive music therapy | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 9 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Depressive symptoms (patient‐reported) (TDI) Up to 3 months Active music therapy vs receptive music therapy | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 9 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Any adverse events ‐ not reported Active music therapy vs receptive music therapy | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Functioning ‐ not reported Active music therapy vs receptive music therapy | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Quality of life (SF‐36 Thai) Up to 3 months Active music therapy vs receptive music therapy | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 9 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Leaving the study early Up to 3 months Active music therapy vs receptive music therapy | OR 0.27 [0.01, 8.46] | 1 study · 10 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Anxiety ‐ not reported Active music therapy vs receptive music therapy | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |