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Cited by 311Music Therapy and HealthDementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchMusic Education and Analysis

Music therapy in dementia: a narrative synthesis systematic review

McDermott, Orii, Crellin, Nadia, Ridder, Hanne Mette, Orrell, Martin·2013·International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
DOI 10.1002/gps.3895
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Recent reviews on music therapy for people with dementia have been limited to attempting to evaluate whether it is effective, but there is a need for a critical assessment of the literature to provide insight into the possible mechanisms of actions of music therapy. This systematic review uses a narrative synthesis format to determine evidence for effectiveness and provide insight into a model of action. METHOD: The narrative synthesis framework consists of four elements: (i) theory development; (ii) preliminary synthesis of findings; (iii) exploration of relationships between studies; and (iv) assessment of the robustness of the synthesis. RESULTS: Electronic and hand searches identified 263 potentially relevant studies. Eighteen studies met the full inclusion criteria. Three distinctive strands of investigations emerged: eight studies explored behavioural and psychological aspects, five studies investigated hormonal and physiological changes, and five studies focused on social and relational aspects of music therapy. The musical interventions in the studies were diverse, but singing featured as an important medium for change. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence for short-term improvement in mood and reduction in behavioural disturbance was consistent, but there were no high-quality longitudinal studies that demonstrated long-term benefits of music therapy. Future music therapy studies need to define a theoretical model, include better-focused outcome measures, and discuss how the findings may improve the well-being of people with dementia.

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  • Music therapy triggers or activates memories which, together with intervention choices and musical cues, facilitate coping and emotion regulation.

    “Music therapy triggers or activates memories (McDermott et al., 2013; Porter et al., 2017; Bibb and McFerran, 2018) which, together with intervention choices and musical cues facilitate coping and emotion regulation (Robb, 2000; Baker et al., 2015; Landis-Shack et al., 2017).”

    From From Therapeutic Factors to Mechanisms of Change in the Creative Arts Therapies: A Scoping Review (2021) · cites this paper as McDermott et al., 2013

  • There is substantive literature reporting the importance and benefits of music and music therapy programs for older adults, and more specifically for those with dementia.

    “There is substantive literature reporting the importance and benefits of music and music therapy programs for older adults, and more specifically for those with dementia (194–199).”

    From The Multidisciplinary Approach to Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia. A Narrative Review of Non-Pharmacological Treatment (2018) · cites this paper as [197]

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Authors
McDermott, O., Crellin, N., Ridder, H. M., & Orrell, M.
Affiliations
  • Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
  • North East London NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
  • Aalborg University (DK)
Corresponding author
McDermott, Orii
ORCID
Venue
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2012-10-18
Volume
28
Issue
8
Pages
781-794
ISSN
  • 0885-6230 (ISSN-L)
  • 1099-1166
DOI
10.1002/gps.3895
OpenAlex
W1608626424
Cited by
310
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 45 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 26 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 10
FWCI
2.67
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • VBN Forskningsportal (Aalborg Universitet) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Music Therapy and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Social Sciences › Education › Music Education and Analysis
Keywords
music therapy, dementia, mechanism of action, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, mood, behavioral problems, singing, well-being, theoretical model
MeSH terms
Dementia, Humans, Music Therapy, Psychotherapy, Group, Social Behavior, Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic, Narration

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