Music Interventions for Dementia and Depression in Elderly Care

Summary

This study evaluates the effectiveness of two music-based approaches - group music therapy and recreational choir singing - for reducing depression symptoms in people living with dementia. It also examines mechanisms and heterogeneity of treatment effects.

Conditions

• Dementia
• Depression

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Group Music Therapy

The core intention of GMT is to meet the psychosocial needs of each person living with dementia, which in turn is thought to reduce depressive symptoms and anxiety and to stimulate overall social and emotional wellbeing. It includes active, reciprocal music making with the use of singing and musical instruments. GMT is provided by a trained music therapist, highly skilled as a musician, and registered with the appropriate professional association in his or her country.

BEHAVIORAL

Recreational Choir Singing

RCS is intended to foster connectedness in a group, wellbeing, and enjoyment of music making in a group. It includes singing familiar songs and providing a familiar musical environment for participants. RCS is provided by a musician with choir leading skills.

OTHER

Standard care

May include pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions as locally available

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Melbourne

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Oldenburg

  collaborator OTHER

• University Medical Center Groningen

  collaborator OTHER

• Ankara Haci Bayram Veli University

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University of Nottingham

  collaborator OTHER

• NORCE Norwegian Research Centre AS

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Vigdis Sveinsdottir, PhD · GAMUT, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Bergen, Norway

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-07-18

Primary Completion

2023-09-29

Completion

2023-09-29

Countries

• Australia
• Germany
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Turkey (Türkiye)
• United Kingdom

Study Locations