Impact of Musical Therapeutic Intervention on Depression in Dementia Patients and Caregiver Burden

NCT07069530 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: Music-2025#FSWHRP2022-1-29-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 25
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This single-site interventional study evaluated the effects of receptive live music therapy on depression in patients with dementia and caregiver burden at the AMAVIDA Memory Care Unit in Fort Myers, Florida. Over two weeks, participants attended six 30-minute live piano performances using a fixed setlist delivered one hour before dinner. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) for patients and the Caregiver Burden Scale in End-of-Life Care (CBS-EOLC) for staff caregivers. Data were analyzed using paired-sample t-tests to compare depression and burden scores before and after the music intervention.

Conditions

Dementia; Alzheimer Disease (AD); Depression Chronic; Caregiver Burden of People With Dementia; Cognitive Impairments

Keywords

Music Therapy; Dementia; Depression; Alzheimer's Disease; Caregiver Burden; Receptive Music Intervention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) Score Among Residents

  The Geriatric Depression Scale (Short Form, 15 items) was administered to residents diagnosed with dementia before and after a two-week receptive music therapy intervention. Scores range from 0 to 15, with higher scores indicating greater depressive symptoms. The primary outcome is the change in GDS score from pre- to post-intervention.

  Within 2 weeks (pre- and post-intervention)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Caregiver Burden Scale in End-of-Life Care (CBS-EOLC) Score

  Within 2 weeks (pre- and post-intervention)

Study Arms (1)

Music Therapy Intervention Arm

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm received six 30-minute sessions of receptive live music therapy delivered via solo piano performance over the course of two weeks. Sessions were held in a communal setting one hour before dinner, using a fixed playlist to ensure consistency. Pre- and post-intervention measures included the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) for residents and the Caregiver Burden Scale in End-of-Life Care (CBS-EOLC) for staff.

Behavioral: Receptive Music Therapy

Interventions

Receptive Music Therapy BEHAVIORAL

Participants received six 30-minute sessions of receptive music therapy delivered by live solo piano performance over two weeks. The same playlist was performed in a fixed order at each session, held one hour before dinner. The intervention was designed to reduce depressive symptoms in dementia patients and alleviate caregiver burden using a structured, low-cost, non-pharmacological approach.

Music Therapy Intervention Arm

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 25 Years - 90 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Resident participants must be aged 60 or older.
• Residents must have a documented diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or related dementia.
• Residents must have completed a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) with a score of ≥17.
• Caregiver participants must be aged 25 or older.
• Caregivers must have at least one year of experience working in the memory care unit.

You may not qualify if:

• Residents with MMSE scores \<17 indicating severe cognitive impairment.
• Residents unable to provide coherent verbal responses.
• Participants (residents or caregivers) who decline to provide informed consent.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Florida SouthWestern State College: lead
• Stanford University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Amavida Assisted Living

Fort Myers, Florida, 33907, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Dementia; Alzheimer Disease; Cognitive Dysfunction; Depression; Caregiver Burden

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders; Tauopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Cognition Disorders; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Stress, Psychological

Study Officials

• Hieu D Nguyen, Associates Degree

  Stanford University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principle Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 7, 2025
• First Posted: July 16, 2025
• Study Start: February 1, 2022
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2022
• Study Completion: July 1, 2022
• Last Updated: July 16, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)