ArticleBJPsych open2023
Investigating the impact of music therapy on two in-patient psychiatric wards for people living with dementia: retrospective observational study.
Article in BJPsych open, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 19 citations in OpenAlex.
- The Effect of Music Therapy on Psychological Outcomes for Neurological Conditions: A Systematic Review.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2025Pooled it
- Characteristics, outcomes, facilitators and barriers for psychosocial interventions on inpatient mental health dementia wards: a systematic review.BMC geriatrics · 2024Pooled it
- Virtual music therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic: an updated scoping review.JBI evidence synthesis · 2026Article
- The Effectiveness and Feasibility of Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Reducing Behavioural and Psychosocial Symptoms of Dementia and Improving Patient Experience in Acute Care Settings: A Systematic Review.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- How and why music therapy reduces distress and improves personhood for people with dementia, staff and families on NHS mental health dementia wards: a realist evaluation.Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique · 2026Article
- Assessing the Inclusion of Music Therapy and Music Interventions in National Dementia Strategies and Clinical Practice Guidelines: A Scoping Review.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Review
- Dementia in-patient units in psychiatric hospitals: research priority setting.BJPsych bulletin · 2025Article
- Music therapy embedded in the life of dementia inpatient care to help prevent and manage distress: a feasibility study to inform a future trial.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2025Article
- Impact of Noise on Medical Anxiety in Hospitalized Children with Pneumonia: A Retrospective Study.Noise & healthArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundMusic therapy can lift mood and reduce agitation for people living with dementia (PwD) in community and residential care settings, potentially reducing the prevalence of distress behaviours. However, less is known about the impact of music therapy on in-patient psychiatric wards for PwD.
aimsTo investigate the impact of music therapy on two in-patient psychiatric wards for PwD.
methodA mixed-methods design was used. Statistical analysis was conducted on incidents involving behaviours reported as 'disruptive and aggressive' in 2020, when music therapy delivery varied because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Semi-structured interviews conducted online with three music therapists and eight ward-based staff were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
resultsQuantitative findings showed a significant reduction in the frequency of behaviours reported as disruptive and aggressive on days with in-person music therapy (every 14 days) than on the same weekday with no or online music therapy (every 3.3 or 3.1 days, respectively). Qualitative findings support this, with music therapy reported by music therapists and staff members to be accessible and meaningful, lifting mood and reducing agitation, with benefits potentially lasting throughout the day and affecting the ward environment.
conclusionsWe identified a significant reduction in the occurrence of distress behaviours on days with in-person music therapy when compared with no music therapy. Music therapy was reported to be a valuable intervention, supporting patient mood and reducing agitation. Interventional studies are needed to investigate the impact of music therapy and its optimum mode of delivery.
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