Music-Induced Affect as Treatment of Elderly Depression Essay

Abstract Depression in elder patients is atomic number 53 of the most prevalent mental problems today. However, research and knowledge regarding this subject is limited and those involved in the application of this knowledge to help of age(p) individuals experiencing printing are lacking in efficient strategies and training. This paper aims to explore the efficacy of inducing collateral bear upon through music as a scheme in treating falling off in time-honored individuals. The paper foc handlings on the effectiveness of music alone as tool in treating depression establish on its capability to induce positive affect. It is hypothesized that positive affect continuously induced via music within a set time-period get out lessen signs of depression.IntroductionDepression has recently been recognized as one of main psychological problems facing society today. Literature shows that treatment of depression needs to be change in terms of the population it addresses. Certain c onclaves, such as adolescents, respond to certain treatments differently when compared to other group, such as the elderly. (Aryan & Alvidres, 2001 Von Kroff et al, 2001)Depression among the elderly has specifically been found to be rampant and mostly unrestrained mainly due to the feature that it was regarded earlier on as a normal step in an individuals aging. (Casey, 1994) The need for further research on the subject is stressed by the fact that treatments and solutions for depression among elderly individuals are studied however in areas wherein a majority of the population is in the late stages of life. (Bramesfeld, 2003)Also, research has shown that general practitioners involved in treating depression in the elderly need to turn in to a greater extent training and information on how best to handle depression in ripened patients. (Rothera et al, 2002) diagnosing of depression is oerly a problem with 70-90% of dispirited elderly patients going undiagnosed. (Koenig, 1999 )A new strategy being researched for its effectiveness in treating depression employs the use of music proficiencys. Hendricks et al (1999) showed the potency of music in treating adolescent depression mainly because of its ability to inspire a change in the individuals emotions.Hanser & Thomson (1994) and Hanser (1990) studies have also shown promise in the use of music techniques to treat depression in older individuals. This paper aims to validate these previous studies but go away focus only on the musical locution of the treatment. Previous research included exercise, muscle relaxation techniques, and recall of experiences which could have confounded the results of the previous studies attesting to the effectiveness of music techniques.Research Question The goal of this paper is to determine whether there is a significant descent between music-induced affect and depression. Can positive affect induced by music reduce depression? It is hypothesized that positive music-induce d affect has a significant negative relationship with depression.Methods The design of the study is experimental and random. Specifically, it makes use of a 22 between-subjects factorial design. One variable go out be the music-induced affect which exit have both levels in the experiment, presence and absence of music-induced affect. Negative music-induced affect allow not be used for ethical reasons. The other variable provide be the test advance of the participants assessing the intensity of their depression. This will have two levels, test scores prior to the application of the music technique and test scores acquired after application. The two variables contribute tot eh 22 factorial design. (Mann, 1949)Setting The study will be conducted in a laboratory setting within primary care facilities from which the participants will be gathered. Performing the experiment in a primary care facility will be more convenient especially because the participants involved are elderly ind ividuals. The laboratory setting will control for bedevil variables that could be present in a real environment.Population The research sample will be composed of individuals from age 65 onwards coming from primary care facilities and who have been diagnosed with depression (ranging from daft to severe). This is to avoid ethical and scientific concerns regarding clinically-induced depression.Data CollectionThe in qualified variable is the positive music-induced affect will be measured with the State Form of the nine-fold adjoin Adjective Check List-Revised (MAACL-R). (Zuckerman & Lubin, 1985) The depression level, the dependent variable, of the participants will be measured with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). (Beck et al, 1961)Participants will be randomly assigned to two groups. The experimental group will be administered with music sessions aimed at inducing positive affect. The music will be pre-tested on a different set of participants also with depression to check its validity in inducing positive affect. The control group will not be administered with music sessions and will only be administered the Beck Depression Inventory at the set off and at the end of the experimentation period. The experimental group will be administered the selected music once daily for a duration of four weeks. During the sessions, participants of the experimental set-up will be asked to clear their minds and to concentrate only on the music being played. The State Form of the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List-Revised will be administered before and after each session to plug that positive affect was induced. The Beck Depression Inventory will also be administered to this group at the start and end of the four-week experimentation period to document depression levels.Data Analysis Collected data will be analyzed statistically with the use of a one-way analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA). The computed marginal sum in the ANOVA will be the determining statistical v alue indicating the effect of positive music-induced affect on depression scores with the Beck Depression Inventory.Conclusion Music as a technique occupied in treating depression will provide healthcare workers and low-income families with a relatively cost-free strategy of helping elderly individuals experiencing depression. This is also a technique that doesnt require much training or medical expertness in its administration. All one would need in order to be able to administer this technique is knowledge as to which music selections are prescribed and certified to induce positive affect. This technique, because of its simplicity and focal ratio of application, could also be used as a supplementary strategy to medication, counseling and psychotherapies being occupied to treat depression in elderly patients. The research, however, has many limitations. The range of elderly individuals that will be forthcoming for experimentation will only be confined to a specific locality. Ti me constraints will also be an issue. Further study should be conducted on a larger sample size and over a longer experimentation period. Different music styles and variations can also be checked to run across maximum effectiveness of the treatment. Gender could also be checked as a factor. Depression is so a psychological problem that afflicts todays elderly individuals. Research regarding effective techniques has to be keep and expanded in order for healthcare workers to be able to best address this growing problem.ReferencesArean, P., & Alvidrez, J. (2001). Treating Depressive Disorders Who Responds, Who Does not Respond, and Who Do We Need to Study? Journal of Family Practices, 50(6), 529Beck, A., Ward, C., Mendelson, M., Mock, J., & Erbaugh, J. (1961). An inventory for measuring depression, Archives of General Psychiatry, 4, 561-571.Bramesfeld, A. (2003). Service preparation for elderly depressed persons and political and professional awareness for this subject a comparison of six European countries. international Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18, 392-401Casey, D. (1994). Depression in the elderly. Southern Medical Journal, 87(5), 559-563Hanser, S. B. (1990). A music therapy strategy for depressed older adults in the community. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 9, 283-298.Hanser, S. B., & Thompson, L. W. (1994). Effects of music therapy strategy on depressed older adults. Journal of Gerontology, 49, 265-269.Hendricks, C., Robinson, B., Bradley, L., & Davis, K. (1999). Using music techniques to treat adolescent depression. Journal of Humanistic Counseling, Education & Development, 38(1), 39-46Koenig, H. (1999). Late-life depression How to treat patients with comorbid chronic illness.Geriatrics, 54(5), 56-61Mann, H.B. (1949). Analysis and design of experiments analysis of variance and analysis of variance designs. New York, capital of Delaware Publications.Rothera, I., Jones, R., & Gordon, C. (2002). An examination of the attitudes and practice of gene ral practitioners in the diagnosis and treatment of depression in older people. International Journal Of Geriatric Psychiatry, 17, 354-358Von Kroff, M., Katon, W., Wells, K., & Wagner, E. (2001). Improving Depression Care Barriers, Solutions, and Research Needs. Journal of Family Practice, 50(6), 529-561Zuckerman M, & Lubin B. (1985) Manual for the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List-Revised. San Diego Educational and Industrial Testing