Date

4-1-2020

Description

Music and medicine are merging to treat depression in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Antidepressants, the current standard, demonstrate mixed effects in clinical trials, warranting other treatment options. Here, I compare music therapy to antidepressants in the treatment of depression in PD via literature review. Studies of depressed PD patients undergoing music therapy and/or antidepressants were reviewed with attention to variables including depression (on a patient-reported outcome) that were measured pre- and post- therapy. In the music studies, improvements were seen in depression. Methodological inconsistencies across these studies, a paucity of studies, and small sample sizes, however, necessitate more research to reach firm conclusions. Future studies should compare antidepressants to music therapy in the depressed PD population. The depression levels of both groups should then be evaluated in a standardized way. Such research may lead to music therapy becoming a widely used treatment for depression in PD.

Comments

This poster based on an individual research project.

Presentation Type

Poster

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Antidepressants Versus Music Therapy: Which Treatment Is Better for Treating Depression in Parkinson's disease?

Music and medicine are merging to treat depression in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Antidepressants, the current standard, demonstrate mixed effects in clinical trials, warranting other treatment options. Here, I compare music therapy to antidepressants in the treatment of depression in PD via literature review. Studies of depressed PD patients undergoing music therapy and/or antidepressants were reviewed with attention to variables including depression (on a patient-reported outcome) that were measured pre- and post- therapy. In the music studies, improvements were seen in depression. Methodological inconsistencies across these studies, a paucity of studies, and small sample sizes, however, necessitate more research to reach firm conclusions. Future studies should compare antidepressants to music therapy in the depressed PD population. The depression levels of both groups should then be evaluated in a standardized way. Such research may lead to music therapy becoming a widely used treatment for depression in PD.