The effect of music therapy on hemodialysis patients' quality of life and depression symptoms

ABSTRACT Introduction: The sources of stress involved in chronic kidney disease (CKD) can lead to depressive states, directly affecting the hemodialysis patient's quality of life (QOL). There are few reports and studies on therapeutic interventions that aim to minimize depressive symptoms in these patients and an even greater shortage of studies using music therapy. Objective: This study evaluated the effect of music therapy on QOL and depressive symptoms in hemodialysis patients. Method: This was a music therapy intervention study in which 23 patients were evaluated regarding QOL and depression symptoms at two distinct stages - before and after the intervention. Eight sessions of music therapy were conducted, with two weekly sessions and an average duration of 75 minutes. The intervention was conducted by the music therapist herself, using specific music therapy techniques, besides voice and guitar to conduct harmonic and rhythmic support for the groups' sound-music production. Results: The patients showed a significant reduction in depression symptoms (p < 0.001) and better QOL results, with significant differences in the following dimensions: functional capacity (p = 0.011), pain (p = 0.036), general health (p = 0.01), vitality (p = 0.004), mental health (p = 0.012), symptom and problem list (p = 0.01), and overall health (p = 0.01). Conclusions: Intervention with music therapy constitutes an effective option in the treatment and prevention of depressive symptoms and improved QOL of HD patients.摘要 引言：慢性肾脏病（Chronic Kidney Disease, CKD）相关应激源可引发抑郁状态，直接影响血液透析（hemodialysis）患者的生活质量（Quality of Life, QOL）。目前针对此类患者抑郁症状的治疗干预研究报道较少，而采用音乐疗法的相关研究则更为稀缺。 研究目的：本研究评估音乐疗法对血液透析患者生活质量及抑郁症状的影响。 研究方法：本研究为音乐疗法干预性研究，共纳入23例患者，分别于干预前、干预后两个阶段对其生活质量与抑郁症状进行评估。本次干预共开展8次音乐治疗，每周2次，单次平均时长75分钟，由专职音乐治疗师实施。干预过程中，治疗师除运用特定音乐治疗技术外，还借助人声与吉他为患者团体的音乐创作提供和声与节奏支撑。 研究结果：患者的抑郁症状出现显著降低（p < 0.001），生活质量亦得到显著改善，在以下维度呈现统计学差异：功能能力（p = 0.011）、疼痛（p = 0.036）、总体健康（p = 0.01）、活力（p = 0.004）、心理健康（p = 0.012）、症状与问题列表（p = 0.01）以及整体健康状况（p = 0.01）。 研究结论：音乐疗法干预可作为血液透析患者抑郁症状治疗与预防、以及提升其生活质量的有效方案。