Feasibility, Experiences and Short-Term Outcomes on Challenging Behaviour and Well-Being of a Partially Online Music Intervention Pilot Study for Adults With Intellectual Disabilities.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic we implemented a partially online music intervention to examine the feasibility, experiences and short-term outcomes on the challenging behaviour and well-being of adults with intellectual disabilities. METHOD: This mixed-methods study included 10 participants with mild or moderate intellectual disabilities who received 16 one-hour individual music sessions in 10 weeks, either face-to-face or online. Data on feasibility and experiences from participants and music workers were collected and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Challenging behaviour and well-being were measured before and after intervention. RESULTS: Overall experiences were positive and concerned appreciation, positive feelings, musical abilities, attention span, relatedness and personalisation. Online experiences varied, but most participants preferred face-to-face over online sessions. After the intervention, challenging behaviour scores were better than before. CONCLUSIONS: Engaging in a partially online music intervention is feasible for people with intellectual disabilities and seems to improve challenging behaviour. Experiences are discussed and recommendations for future online sessions are provided.

Early maturation of neural auditory novelty detection - Typical development with no major effects of dyslexia risk or music intervention.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the early development of novelty detection and the effect of familial dyslexia risk and infant music intervention on this development. METHODS: In the longitudinal DyslexiaBaby study, we investigated the maturation of novelty-P3 and late-discriminative negativity (LDN) event-related potentials to novel sounds at birth (N = 177) and at the ages of 6 (N = 83) and 28 months (N = 131). RESULTS: Novelty-P3 was elicited at all ages, whereas LDN was elicited at 6 and 28 months. Novelty-P3 amplitude was largest at 6 months, and its latency decreased with age. LDN amplitude decreased and latency increased between 6 to 28 months. Dyslexia risk or intervention had no effects, apart from a longer LDN latency in the high-risk than no-risk group. CONCLUSIONS: Already neonates respond to novel environmental sounds, indicating prerequisites for detecting potentially relevant events at birth. Maturation influences neural novelty detection. SIGNIFICANCE: Novelty detection is crucial for perceiving important events, but its early development has been scarcely studied. We found, with a large sample, that neonates detect novel events, and showed the developmental pattern of its neural signature. The results serve as a reference for studies on typical and atypical novelty-detection development in infancy when behavioral testing is challenging.

Developing Music Therapy in Maternity Care in Ireland: A Qualitative Study.

Music therapy can be a form of preventive or early intervention. It strengthens and utilizes women's own resources to build resilience, aids relaxation, reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression, promotes parent-infant attachment, and adapts to physical and psychological challenges during the perinatal period. The inclusion of music therapy in Irish maternity services has the potential to improve the quality of healthcare delivery provided to parents and infants. Recent studies demonstrate that the prospect of music therapy is welcomed by parents and perinatal healthcare professionals in Ireland, but such services are yet to be formally embedded in maternity care. Building on a cross-sectional survey, this qualitative study employed 6 semi-structured interviews with women and perinatal healthcare professionals in Ireland to understand their perspectives on developing music therapy in Irish maternity care services. Four themes were identified from the thematic analysis of these interviews: (1) music has multiple functions during the perinatal period; (2) music programs contribute to holistic perspectives and approachability in perinatal care; (3) music therapy provides specialist support; and (4) further development of music therapy services is challenging. The findings offer important insights and practical considerations on the key components of the music therapy programs and strategies in developing music therapy in Irish maternity settings. This information can directly inform music therapy researchers and practitioners in designing music therapy programs and developing relevant services in collaboration with maternity care professionals and policymakers.

Research progress of music intervention in nursing of premature infants in neonatal intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: With the continuous advancement of medical technology, the survival rate of preterm infants is gradually improving, However, due to the underdeveloped function of various organs and systems, preterm infants are often exposed to light, noise, medical as well as nursing operations and other stimuli during their hospitalization in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU); it is highly susceptible to a number of problems, such as pain, unstable vital signs, growth retardation, and sleep disruption. OBJECTIVE: This article reviews the research progress of music intervention in nursing of premature infants in NICU with both traditional and conventional care. METHODS: This article reviews the research background, methodology/design, and measurement/application effects of music interventions, including Chinese and Western traditional music, in the care of preterm infants in NICU. All scholarly literature retrieved from MEDLINE\PubMed, Science Citation Index Expanded, Google scholar, CNKI scholar, Scopus and PubsHub. RESULTS: As a simple and effective non-pharmacological intervention, music intervention can effectively alleviate neonatal surgical pain, increase heart rate and oxygen saturation, promote sleep, growth and development, and improve neurological development. CONCLUSIONS: This review provide theoretical references for clinical practice.

The Effects of Music Intervention on Quality of Life, Anxiety, and Fatigue Among Patients With Breast Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of music intervention on quality of life, anxiety, and fatigue among patients with breast cancer. SAMPLE & SETTING: 170 individuals from the general surgery unit of Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan. METHODS & VARIABLES: Individuals who had received a mastectomy were randomly assigned to a treatment group or control group. In the treatment group, participants received music intervention for an hour each week, totaling 12 hours during 12 consecutive weeks. The primary variable was quality of life, and secondary variables were anxiety and fatigue. RESULTS: Greater quality of life was seen in the treatment group at 12 weeks. In the treatment group, participants showed significant improvement in State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (trait), which was most significant at eight weeks. No statistically significant difference was observed in fatigue levels after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of music intervention. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Music intervention may improve anxiety and quality of life of patients with breast cancer. Music intervention could be established following mastectomy and continued throughout recovery.

Sleep-aiding music therapy for insomnia: Exploring EEG functional connectivity of sleep-related attentional bias.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between sleep-aiding music and sleep-related attentional bias based on electroencephalography (EEG) functional connectivity (FC) in patients with insomnia disorder (ID), to evaluate the effectiveness of music in aiding sleep. METHOD: This study included 30 participants, comprising 15 patients with ID and 15 healthy controls (HCs). Six types of music were selected for sleep aid, and a dot-probe task based on sleep-related attentional bias was utilized to collect behavioral and EEG data. Vigilance bias and disengagement bias were measured using reaction time and EEG FC. Differences in sleep-related attentional bias before and after the intervention of music were explored to evaluate the sleep-aiding effects and identify EEG biomarkers. RESULTS: Compared with HCs, patients with ID showed decreased sleep-related attentional bias of EEG FC between occipital-central and temporal-frontal lobes. Among the six types of music, International Standard Sleep Aid and Lullaby had a greater impact on decreasing vigilance bias in the ID group. Additionally, the International Standard Sleep Aid and Nature Sound were more effective in decreasing disengagement bias in the ID group. This study also examined the resting-state EEG FC of patients with ID before and after the intervention of music. The results showed that the FC in the temporal, frontal, and occipital lobes significantly differed before and after the intervention of music, especially with the use of International Standard Sleep Aid, Lullaby, and Alpha Sound Wave. However, it is worth noting that these three types of music showed no similarities in EEG FC, in contrast to the result of sleep-related attentional bias of EEG FC. CONCLUSION: This study found that the sleep-related attentional bias of EEG FC has more distinct characteristics when compared to resting-state EEG FC. The results suggest that the sleep-related attentional bias of EEG FC could be a potential biomarker for assessing the sleep-aiding effect of music interventions. International Standard Sleep Aid was the most effective for patients with ID among six types of sleep-aiding music. These findings could facilitate the development of personalized therapies for patients with ID. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Register, http://www.chictr.org.cn, ID: ChiCTR2400081608.

The effect of laughter yoga and music intervention on depression, anxiety, and stress in the Rafsanjan-Iran aged: a randomized clinical trial study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the effects of laughter yoga and music intervention on depression, anxiety, and stress in aged individuals referred to Rafsanjan health centers. METHOD: In this 3-arm randomized clinical trial, 91 depressed aged participants aged 60-75 years, referred to Rafsanjan health centers, were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The study followed a parallel group design with an allocation ratio of 1:1. The laughter yoga intervention was conducted twice a week for eight weeks, and music intervention consisted of 30-min sessions twice a week for eight weeks. The control group received no intervention ('No treatment' concurrent control). Assessments for depressive symptoms (primary outcome), anxiety, and stress were conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and one month after the intervention. RESULTS: A total of 84 patients were analyzed in three groups included the laughter yoga intervention (n = 31), music intervention (n = 25), or control group (n = 28). Repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant decrease in depressive and anxiety symptoms (p < 0.001) from pre-test to post-test and one-month follow-ups. The greatest impact of the intervention programs on stress was observed immediately after the intervention, but stress increased one month after the intervention programs (p = 0.125). CONCLUSION: Both laughter yoga and music interventions proved effective in improving depression, anxiety, and stress in aged individuals. However, laughter yoga intervention demonstrated a superior effect and better acceptance among elders.

Live music in the intensive care unit-A mixed-methods pilot study exploring the experience and impact of live music played for the adult intensive care patient.

BACKGROUND: Evidence for music's beneficial effect on physical and mental disorders is mounting. Intensive care unit (ICU) patients experience multiple uncomfortable symptoms, which may be alleviated using a music-based intervention. Few studies have examined the experience and the physical impact of patient-tailored live music offered by trained health musicians in an adult ICU. AIMS: This study aimed to explore the experience of live music in adult patients admitted to an ICU, focusing on its effects on relaxation, stress, and pain. STUDY DESIGN: A pilot study with a convergent mixed-methods design. A total of 27 intensive care patients at a Danish University Hospital were offered patient-tailored live music by trained musicians in a single-session design. We performed participant observation and conducted patient interviews using an observational and semistructured interview guide. These data were supported by quantitative pre-post measurements of heart rate, respiration rate, mean arterial blood pressure, subjective pain experience, and heart-rate variability. The study was conducted from February 2020 to December 2021. FINDINGS: Using a Ricoeur-inspired analysis of observations and interviews, we elicited four themes: 'A break where you can swim away and relax', 'The living presence makes the play unique', 'Happy memories of the past and longing for home', and 'An intense and meaningful experience'. The quantitative analysis showed a significant decrease in heart rate (4.33 bpm, p < 0.02), respiration rate (2.93, p < 0.001), and blood pressure (3.30, p < 0.05) and a significant increase in heart-rate variation (-0.22, p < 0.01). Seven patients reported pain reduction after the music intervention, corresponding to a 24% reduction. CONCLUSION: Live music contributes to meaningful moments by bringing elements of everyday life into the ICU and may promote relaxation and reduce stress and pain. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Our findings indicate that live music is a nonpharmacological experience that creates meaningful moments for critically ill patients.

Technology-Based Music Interventions to Reduce Anxiety and Pain Among Patients Undergoing Surgery or Procedures: Systematic Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Hospitalized patients undergoing surgery or procedures may experience negative symptoms. Music is a nonpharmacological complementary approach and is used as an intervention to reduce anxiety, stress, and pain in these patients. Recently, music has been used conveniently in clinical situations with technology devices, and the mode of providing music is an important factor in technology-based music interventions. However, many reviews have focused only on the effectiveness of music interventions. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of technology-based music interventions for reducing anxiety and pain among patients undergoing surgery or procedures. We examined the clinical situation, devices used, delivery methods, and effectiveness of technology-based music interventions in primary articles. METHODS: The search was performed in the following 5 electronic databases: PubMed, MEDLINE (OvidSP), CINAHL complete, PSYCINFO, and Embase. This systematic review focused on technology-based music interventions. The following articles were included: (1) RCTs, (2) studies using interactive technology (eg, smartphones, mHealth, tablets, applications, and virtual reality), (3) empirical studies reporting pain and anxiety outcomes, and (4) English articles published from 2018 to 2023 (as of January 18, 2023). The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool version 2. RESULTS: Among 292 studies identified, 21 met the inclusion criteria and were included. Of these studies, 9 reported that anxiety scores decreased after music interventions and 7 reported that pain could be decreased before, during, and after procedures. The methodology of the music intervention was important to the results on anxiety and pain in the clinical trials. More than 50% (13/21, 62%) of the studies included in this review allowed participants to select themes themselves. However, it was difficult to distinguish differences in effects depending on the device or software used for the music interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Technology-based music interventions could help reduce anxiety and pain among patients undergoing surgery or procedures. The findings of this review could help medical teams to choose a practical methodology for music interventions. Future studies should examine the effects of advanced technology-based music interventions using smart devices and software that promote interactions between medical staff and patients.

A Personalized Music Intervention in Nursing Home Residents Living With Dementia: Findings From a Randomized Study.

Utilizing a randomized control design, this mixed method study aimed to assess the impact of a personalized music intervention on mood, agitation level, and psychotropic drug use in individuals with moderate to advanced dementia residing in long-term care facilities. The sample comprised of 261 participants, with 148 in the intervention group and 113 in the control group. Data were collected from three sources: quantitative data from the Minimum Data Set and the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory, observational data of music-listening sessions, and an administrator survey regarding the lead staff person's perceptions of the intervention. Findings, based on Mixed Effect Models and content analyses, revealed positive impacts of the personalized music intervention on residents living with dementia. This low-cost, easily implementable intervention, requiring no special licensure for administration, can significantly enhance the quality of life for nursing facility residents.

The Sound of Memory: Investigating Music Therapy's Cognitive Benefits in Patients with Dementia-A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Numerous previous studies have shown the effectiveness of music therapy in enhancing cognitive functions in patients with dementia. Despite this, robust evidence in this field, especially concerning the comparison of different music therapy types, is lacking. Therefore, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focusing on music therapy and cognitive functions in dementia patients, termed by "music" AND "dementia" OR "Alzheimer's disease" AND "cognitive", were identified from primary electronic databases to conduct this network meta-analysis (NMA). The primary outcome focused on the impact on cognitive functions, and the secondary outcome was the comparison of dropout rates between the intervention groups and the usual care control groups. Standardized mean difference (SMD) values and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed for effect evaluation. This study protocol has been registered in IPLASY (INPLASY202430082). A total of 14 RCTs with 1056 participants were enrolled, examining interventions including Active Music Therapy (AMT), Active Music Therapy with Singing (AMT + Sing), Rhythmic Music Therapy (RMT), Listening to Music (LtM), and Singing (Sing). The results indicated that RMT, AMT + Sing, and AMT all significantly improve cognitive functions in dementia patients, of which the SMD were 0.76 (95% CI = 0.32-1.21), 0.79 (95% CI = 0.03-1.49), and 0.57 (0.18-0.96), respectively. Compared with the control group (usual care), no music therapy type was associated with an increased dropout risk. In conclusion, music therapy can improve cognitive functions in patients with dementia without increasing the risk of dropout, particularly RMT, AMT + Sing, and AMT.

Healthcare practitioners' experiences and perspectives of music in perinatal care in Ireland: An exploratory survey.

INTRODUCTION: Evidence shows that music can promote the wellbeing of women and infants in the perinatal period. Ireland's National Maternity Strategy (2016-2026) suggests a holistic approach to woman's healthcare needs and music interventions are ideally placed as a non-pharmacological and cost-effective intervention to improve the quality of care offered to women and infants. This cross-sectional survey aimed to explore the healthcare practitioners' personal and professional experiences of using music therapeutically and its impact and barriers in practice. The survey also investigated practitioners' knowledge and attitudes towards the use of music as a therapeutic tool in perinatal care. METHODS: A novel online survey was developed and distributed through healthcare practitioners' electronic mailing lists, social media, Perinatal Mental Health staff App, and posters at the regional maternity hospital during 26th June and 26th October 2020. Survey items included demographics, personal and professional use of music, and perspectives on music intervention in perinatal care. RESULTS: Forty-six healthcare practitioners from across 11 professions were recruited and 42 were included in this study. 98 % of perinatal practitioners used music intentionally to support their wellbeing and 75 % referred to using music in their work. While 90 % found music beneficial in their practice, 15 % reported some negative effect. Around two-thirds of the respondents were familiar with the evidence on music and perinatal wellbeing and 95 % thought there was not enough guidance. 40 % considered music therapy an evidence-based practice and 81 % saw a role for music therapy in standard maternity service in Ireland. The qualitative feedback on how music was used personally and professionally, its' reported benefits, negative effects, and barriers are discussed. DISCUSSION: This study offers insights into how healthcare practitioners viewed and applied music in perinatal practice. The findings indicate high interest and positive experiences in using music as a therapeutic tool in perinatal care which highlights the need for more evidence and guidance.

Improvement of symptoms in children with autism by TOMATIS training: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study.

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological condition that is marked by deficits in social interaction, difficulty expressing oneself, lack of enthusiasm, and stereotypical conduct. The TOMATIS training method is an effective music therapy for children with ASD for its individually developed programs to improve behavioral deficits. Methods: The research employed both longitudinal and crosssectional designs. Results: In the cross-sectional study, the experimental group showed significant improvement in symptoms after TOMATIS training compared to the control group of children with ASD. The results validated the effect of TOMATIS treatment for ASD-related deficits, including perceptual-motor, attentional, social, and emotional issues. Discussion: ASD's auditory hypersensitivity hampers social information processing, but TOMATIS enhances cochlear frequency selectivity, aiding in capturing relevant auditory stimuli. In addition, the longitudinal study confirmed these findings, which proved TOMATIS training effective in clinically treating ASD. This study focused on audiometric indicators and behavioural improvement, elucidating the mechanisms behind the training's success. Behavioral improvements might stem from TOMATIS' frequency selectivity, reshaping auditory organ-cortical feedback loops to filter interference and focus on valid information.

Alternative Treatments to Pharmacological Therapy in Pediatric Populations With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A Scoping Review.

In recent years, there has been an increase in the prevalence of the diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a cognitive and behavioral disorder in which individuals present with inattention and impulsivity, in the pediatric population. With an increase in diagnoses, there is also increasing concern regarding overdiagnosis and overtreatment with medications for ADHD. The objective of this study was to map out and compile the recent literature pertaining to alternative therapies (e.g., physical activity, diet, mindfulness, and computer-based interventions) for children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD in an attempt to reduce or replace the use of pharmacological therapy. This scoping review searched articles from multiple databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Directory of Open Access Journals, Scopus, and CINAHL). Using search terms "children with ADHD," "alternative treatment," and "cognitive behavioral therapy," articles were identified that were specific to the research question. The inclusion criteria were patients under the age of 18 with a previous diagnosis of ADHD, no other comorbid illnesses, alternative treatments, and was limited to studies published between 2012 and 2022. After removing duplicates, screening for eligibility criteria, and conducting a critical appraisal of the articles, 16 articles were retained for the final review. The main alternative therapeutic domains that emerged were (1) physical activity, (2) diet, (3) mindfulness, (4) computer-based interventions, and (5) miscellaneous interventions. Seven articles assessed the effect of physical activity on executive and cognitive function in children and adolescents with ADHD. Most findings showed improvement with increased physical activity. Two articles explored the effect of diet on the improvement of ADHD symptoms and reported a positive impact. The two articles that evaluated the effects of mindfulness on ADHD symptoms reported a reduction in ADHD symptoms. Two studies evaluated the use of computer-based interventions as an adjunct treatment in children and adolescents with ADHD; improvements in symptoms were reported. One study each evaluated interventions based on music and nerve stimulation. These showed an improvement in attention, memory, and executive function. With the increasing prevalence of ADHD diagnosis in children and adolescents, alternative and/or adjunctive treatments may be a viable and valuable alternative to pharmaceutical interventions. The findings from this review suggest that multiple non-pharmacological interventions effectively reduce symptoms of ADHD in children and adolescents, including diet, exercise, mindfulness, computer-based interventions, music, and nerve stimulation. While there are implications for alternatives to be used in the future, more research is warranted using larger samples with controlled trials.

Music therapy for therapeutic development in personality disorders: A qualitative case study.

People with personality disorders (PDs) are often difficult to reach emotionally in therapy. As music therapy (MT) provides an entry point to emotions and facilitates contact and communication, it is regularly used with this target group. This study presents a case study of a 40-year-old woman diagnosed with a PD not otherwise defined. "Nina" experienced depressive and physical symptoms, including severe anxiety. Previous treatments had failed. In MT, she experienced a sense of safety. Over the course of the treatment, she experimented with making herself heard, learned to listen to herself and recognize her own physical signals, permitted closeness and cooperation, and began setting boundaries and taking initiative. She got in touch with and learned to regulate emotions such as sadness and fear. Self-criticism gave way to a more compassionate self. Nina began to experience positive feelings and showed progress in her work and social interactions. The findings suggest that MT can directly connect to clients' emotions, behaviors, and thoughts in a way they perceive as safe. This is of the utmost importance for clients who are hard to reach. The use of MT can potentially prevent dropout and further entrapment in personality problems.

Effects of a music-based intervention on psychophysiological outcomes of patients undergoing medical imaging procedures: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Musical intervention (MI) is a valuable strategy for addressing the psychological and emotional challenges faced by patients undergoing imaging procedures. This study explores MI's impact on psychophysiological outcomes during imaging procedures, detailing the sound repertoire and technical characteristics employed in MI. METHODS: A systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis (MA) were conducted. Electronic database searches of PubMed, Web-of-Science, and Scopus were performed encompassing original randomised research and quasi-experimental articles published until June 2023. RESULTS: Thirteen articles were included in this SR, scoring between 23 and 68 on the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Checklist. Four articles were included to perform a MA concerning anxiety and heart rate (HR) outcomes. Most studies utilised digital playlists as the medium for MI. Headphones were commonly used, with an average volume of 50-60 dB and a musical frequency of 60-80 beats/min. While authors generally preferred selecting musical genres for the repertoire, two articles specifically chose Johann Pachelbel's "Canon in D major" as their musical theme. In terms of psychological parameters, the experimental groups exhibited lower anxiety values than the control groups, with further reductions after MI. However, MA shows that this trend is only marginally significant. Patient comfort and overall examination experience showed improvement with MI. Regarding physiological parameters, HR, especially in the final phase of the examination, was significantly lower in the experimental group compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Across multiple studies, MI demonstrated the ability to reduce anxiety and HR. However, no specific music repertoire emerged as the most effective. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: MI arises as a painless, reliable, low-cost, and side-effect-free strategy, presenting imaging departments with a practical means to enhance patient comfort and mitigate anxiety and stress during medical procedures.

Live music in the intensive care unit - a beautiful experience.

BACKGROUND: The growing number of lightly or non-sedated patients who are critically ill means that more patients experience the noisy and stressful environment. Live music may create positive and meaningful moments. PURPOSE: To explore non-sedated patients' experiences of patient-tailored live music interventions in the intensive care unit. DESIGN: A qualitative study using a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach. Data were collected at two intensive care units from September 2019 to February 2020 exploring 18 live music interventions performed by music students from The Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus, Denmark. METHODS: Observations of live music interventions followed by patient interviews. All data together were analysed using Ricoeur's theory of interpretation. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist was used. RESULTS: Five themes emerged: 1) A break from everyday life, 2) A room with beautiful sounds and emotions, 3) Too tired to participate, 4) Knowing the music makes it meaningful and 5) A calm and beautiful moment. CONCLUSION: Patient-tailored live music to awake patients is both feasible and acceptable and perceived as a break from every-day life in the ICU. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Supporting health and well-being by bringing a humanizing resource into the intensive care setting for patients and nurses to enjoy.

An Individual Music Intervention for Adults With Intellectual Disabilities and Challenging Behavior: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) are more likely to have problems with executive functioning (EF) and challenging behavior (CB), which are negatively linked to well-being. Among clinical populations, music interventions have been shown to improve various outcome measures, such as CB and EF. Until now, no randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been conducted to examine the effectiveness of an individual music intervention for adults with ID and CB. OBJECTIVE: The study aims to identify the effect and feasibility of an individual music intervention compared with care-as-usual for people with ID and CB. METHODS: In this study, a 2-group RCT with a pretest, posttest, and follow-up assessment after 8 weeks is presented. Participants of the music intervention condition will receive 16 individual music sessions within 8 to 10 weeks. The music intervention will be guided by a manual for music workers, in which every session will have a different focus (introduction, emotions, different EF, and end performance). Participants receiving care as usual will function as a control group. After the research is finished, they will be offered a budget, which they can spend on musical activities or musical instruments as they wish. Assessments will include caregiver rating scales and self-report questionnaires and tests, which will assess outcome measures of CB, well-being, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and 4 domains of EF. A process evaluation will be conducted after the completion of the study, which entails the analysis of data on multiple aspects of the intervention and the study overall. RESULTS: Enrollment commenced in July 2021, and data collection ended in May 2023. A total of 97 participants were recruited, with 44 participants allocated to the intervention group and 53 allocated to the control group. Data will be analyzed after this protocol has been accepted for publication. CONCLUSIONS: Because there are currently no published RCTs of an individual music intervention for adults with ID and CB, this study will provide insight into the effectiveness and experiences of an individual music intervention for this target group. TRIAL REGISTRATION: International Clinical Trials Registry Platform NL8482; http://tinyurl.com/4565s5pd. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/52497.

Effects of music on cognitive behavioral impairments in both sex of adult rats exposed prenatally to valproic acid.

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairment in reciprocal social interactions, deficits in communication, and restrictive and repetitive behaviors and interests. In previous studies, music has been identified as an intervention therapy for children with ASD. OBJECTIVES: The present study evaluated the effects of music on cognitive behavioral impairments in both sexes of adult rats exposed prenatally to Valproic acid. METHODS: For induction of autism, pregnant female rats were pretreated with either saline or VPA (600 mg/kg.i.p.) at gestational day (GD) 12.5. Male and female offspring were divided into Saline.Non-Music, VPA.Non-Music, Saline.Music, and VPA.Music groups. The adult rats in the music groups were exposed to Mozart's piano sonata K.448 for 30 days (4 h/day), from postnatal day (PND) 60 to 90. Social interaction and Morris water maze (MWM) tasks were tested at PND 90. RESULTS: Our results revealed that prenatal exposure to VPA decreased sociability and social memory performance in both sexes of adult rats. Moreover, prenatal exposure to VPA created learning and memory impairments in both sexes of adult rats in the MWM task. Music intervention improved sociability in both sexes of VPA-exposed rats and social memory in both sexes of VPA-exposed rats, especially in females. Furthermore, our results revealed that music ameliorated learning impairments in VPA-exposed female rats in the MWM task. In addition, music improved spatial memory impairments in VPA-exposed rats of both sexes, especially in females, which needs more investigation in molecular and histological fields in future studies. CONCLUSION: Music intervention improved sociability and social memory in adult VPA-exposed rats, especially in female animals. Furthermore, music improved memory impairments in VPA-exposed rats of both sexes. It seems that music had a better influence on female rats. However, future studies need more investigations in molecular and histological fields.

Music interventions with children, adolescents and emerging adults in mental health settings: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Music is increasingly used with youths in health and psychosocial interventions. We conducted a scoping review with the aim to provide an overview of the current available evidence on music intervention for youth in mental health settings, to inform practice and further research. METHODS: Three databases (PsycINFO, PubMed and CINAHL) were surveyed. Using the PRISMA review method, 23 studies met inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Young people aged from 4 to 25 years old with various mental health conditions participated in music interventions. Music therapy was the most investigated (71%). Improving social skills was the most frequent therapeutic aim addressed. Music interventions are mostly appreciated by the participants, but it is difficult to make conclusions about their effectiveness because of the heterogeneity of research designs and the limited current state of research. CONCLUSION: Music interventions appear to represent a promising complementary approach to usual psychiatric care, but further standardised research is necessary to continue investigating their therapeutic effects.