Music Therapy in Acute Stroke

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to explore the potential benefits of adding music therapy to traditional treatment methods for post-acute stroke patients. The primary outcomes focused on were mood stabilization, recovery of cognitive skills and functions, and reduction of anxiety.
METHODS: The research was carried out in the Neurology Department of Gebze Fatih State Hospital. A group of volunteer patients aged 18-80, diagnosed with acute stroke, participated. The participants were divided into a music therapy group and a control group, with 20 patients in each. They were hospitalized for approximately seven days. The music therapy group underwent a varied auditory regimen, including Turkish art, pop, and acoustic music, as well as foreign easy listening and classical music, for four hours daily. Assessments before discharge included the Beck tests for anxiety and depression, the MOCA for cognitive evaluation, and NIHSS score recordings at admission and discharge. The Modified Rankin Score was also recorded before discharge. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 25).
RESULTS: The comparative analysis showed no significant effect of music therapy on depression, anxiety, or MOCA test scores in acute stroke patients before discharge. Notably, lower Beck depression scores correlated with patients who had lower NIHSS scores at both admission and discharge (p=0.011 and p=0.007, respectively). Moreover, patients with minor strokes displayed significantly higher musically-evoked emotional responses (e.g., joy, sadness, motivation) compared to those with moderate strokes (p=0.011).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Acute stroke patients with lower NIHSS scores may benefit most from passive music therapy during their hospital stay. This highlights the subtle role of music therapy, suggesting its potential effectiveness might depend on the severity of the stroke.