Music could be used instead of drugs to ease dementia symptoms, study finds

Music therapy could be used instead of drugs to ease severe distress among dementia patients in hospital, a study suggests. A pilot scheme across two NHS wards involved a music therapist being embedded to deliver clinical music sessions and develop musical care plans for patients.

The research found that patients who engaged with music saw slight improvements in quality of life score and a reduction in the severity of symptoms relating to distress and disruptiveness. Prescriptions for psychotropic medication to manage distress symptoms also decreased during the four-week trial period.

Developed by experts at Anglia Ruskin University, the approach cost £2,025 per month for the therapist and £400 for equipment.

It was tested at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust. Honorary consultant psychiatrist Dr Ben Underwood, the trust's research and development director, said: "Some people with dementia can get so confused and distressed that we need to admit them to hospital to keep them safe.

"It can be difficult to manage distress in a ward environment and hard for patients, families and staff.

"I am very excited that it may now be possible for NHS staff to improve their experience on dementia wards using the power of music, and we look forward to working with ARU to develop this further."

The research identified no increases in reported accidents or side effects linked to music therapy.

Study leader Naomi Thompson, a researcher at the Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), said: "People with dementia on inpatient mental health wards are often experiencing very high levels of distress, and staff are under immense pressure to manage this in ways that are safe and compassionate.

"Our study yielded promising results and importantly showed that the MELODIC tool can be used effectively in these highly complex settings, giving an alternative option to current ways of managing severe distress, such as psychotropic medication."

The findings were published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry.