Intervention Review

Music therapy for acquired brain injury

  1. Joke Bradt1,*,
  2. Wendy L Magee2,
  3. Cheryl Dileo3,
  4. Barbara L Wheeler4,
  5. Emer McGilloway5

Editorial Group: Cochrane Stroke Group

Published Online: 7 JUL 2010

Assessed as up-to-date: 28 MAR 2010

DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006787.pub2

Database Title

Additional Information

How to Cite

Bradt J, Magee WL, Dileo C, Wheeler BL, McGilloway E. Music therapy for acquired brain injury. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2010, Issue 7. Art. No.: CD006787. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006787.pub2.

Author Information

  1. 1

    Boyer College of Music and Dance, Temple University, The Arts and Quality of Life Research Center, Philadelphia, USA

  2. 2

    Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability, Institute of Neuropalliative Rehabilitation, London, UK

  3. 3

    Boyer College of Music and Dance, Temple University, Department of Music Therapy and The Arts and Quality of Life Research Center, Philadelphia, USA

  4. 4

    University of Louisville, School of Music, Louisville, KY, USA

  5. 5

    Wolfson Neurorehabilitation Centre, London, UK

*Joke Bradt, The Arts and Quality of Life Research Center, Boyer College of Music and Dance, Temple University, Presser Hall, 2001 North 13 Street, Philadelphia, USA. jbradt@temple.edu.

Publication History

  1. Publication Status: New
  2. Published Online: 7 JUL 2010

SEARCH

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Summary (58K)Standard (332K)Full (593K)
 

Abstract

  1. Top of page
  2. Abstract
  3. Plain language summary
  4. Resumen

Background

Acquired brain injury (ABI) can result in impairments in motor function, language, cognition, sensory processing and emotional disturbances. This may severely reduce a survivor's quality of life. Music therapy has been used in rehabilitation to stimulate brain functions involved in movement, cognition, speech, emotions and sensory perceptions. A systematic review is needed to gauge the efficacy of music therapy as a rehabilitation intervention for people with ABI.

Objectives

To examine the effects of music therapy with standard care versus standard care alone or standard care combined with other therapies on gait, upper extremity function, communication, mood and emotions, social skills, pain, behavioral outcomes, activities of daily living and adverse events.

Search methods

We searched the Cochrane Stroke Group Trials Register (February 2010), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library Issue 2, 2009), MEDLINE (July 2009), EMBASE (August 2009), CINAHL (March 2010), PsycINFO (July 2009), LILACS (August 2009), AMED (August 2009) and Science Citation Index (August 2009). We handsearched music therapy journals and conference proceedings, searched dissertation and specialist music databases, trials and research registers, reference lists, and contacted experts and music therapy associations. There was no language restriction.

Selection criteria

Randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials that compared music therapy interventions and standard care with standard care alone or combined with other therapies for people older than 16 years of age who had acquired brain damage of a non-degenerative nature and were participating in treatment programs offered in hospital, outpatient or community settings.

Data collection and analysis

Two review authors independently assessed methodological quality and extracted data. We present results using mean differences (using post-test scores) as all outcomes were measured with the same scale.

Main results

We included seven studies (184 participants). The results suggest that rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) may be beneficial for improving gait parameters in stroke patients, including gait velocity, cadence, stride length and gait symmetry. These results were based on two studies that received a low risk of bias score. There were insufficient data to examine the effect of music therapy on other outcomes.

Authors' conclusions

RAS may be beneficial for gait improvement in people with stroke. These results are encouraging, but more RCTs are needed before recommendations can be made for clinical practice. More research is needed to examine the effects of music therapy on other outcomes in people with ABI.

 

Plain language summary

  1. Top of page
  2. Abstract
  3. Plain language summary
  4. Resumen

Music therapy for acquired brain injury

Acquired brain injury can result in problems with movement, language, sensation, thinking or emotion. Any of these may severely reduce a survivor's quality of life. Many innovative therapy techniques have been developed to help recover lost functions and to prevent depression. Music therapy involves using music to aid rehabilitation. Specific treatments may include the use of rhythmic stimulation to aid movement and walking, singing to address speaking and voice quality, listening to music to reduce pain and the use of music improvisations to address emotional needs and enhance a sense of wellbeing. We identified and included seven studies (involving 184 participants) in this review, all of which were carried out by a trained music therapist. The results suggest that rhythmic auditory stimulation may be beneficial for improving measures of walking, but there was insufficient information to examine the effect of music therapy on other outcomes. Further clinical trials are needed.

 

Resumen

  1. Top of page
  2. Abstract
  3. Plain language summary
  4. Resumen

Antecedentes

Musicoterapia para la lesión cerebral adquirida

La lesión cerebral adquirida (LCA) puede ocasionar deficiencias en la función motora, el lenguaje, la cognición, el procesamiento sensorial y trastornos emocionales. Estas alteraciones pueden reducir de manera significativa la calidad de vida de un paciente que sobrevive a la lesión. La musicoterapia se ha usado en la rehabilitación para estimular las funciones cerebrales incluidas en el movimiento, la cognición, el habla, las emociones y las percepciones sensoriales. Se necesita una revisión sistemática para medir la eficacia de la musicoterapia como intervención de rehabilitación para los pacientes con LCA.

Objetivos

Examinar los efectos de la musicoterapia con atención estándar versus atención estándar solamente, o atención estándar combinada con otros tratamientos para la marcha, la función de las extremidades superiores, la comunicación, el estado de ánimo y las emociones, las aptitudes sociales, el dolor, los resultados conductuales, las actividades cotidianas y los eventos adversos.

Estrategia de búsqueda

Se hicieron búsquedas en el Registro de Ensayos del Grupo Cochrane de Accidentes Cerebrovasculares (Cochrane Stroke Group) (febrero 2010), Registro Cochrane Central de Ensayos Controlados (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) (The Cochrane Library número 2, 2009), MEDLINE (julio 2009), EMBASE (agosto 2009), CINAHL (marzo 2010), PsycINFO (julio 2009), LILACS (agosto 2009), AMED (agosto 2009) y en Science Citation Index (agosto 2009). Se realizaron búsquedas manuales de revistas y resúmenes de congresos de musicoterapia en las bases de datos de disertaciones y especialistas en música, ensayos, registros de investigación y listas de referencias, y se estableció contacto con expertos y asociaciones de musicoterapia. No hubo restricciones de idioma.

Criterios de selección

Ensayos controlados aleatorios y cuasialeatorios que compararon las intervenciones de musicoterapia y atención estándar con la atención estándar sola o combinada con otros tratamientos para pacientes mayores de 16 años de edad con lesión cerebral adquirida de naturaleza no degenerativa y que estuvieran participando en programas de tratamiento ofrecidos en el ámbito hospitalario, ambulatorios o de la comunidad.

Obtención y análisis de los datos

Dos autores de la revisión evaluaron de forma independiente la calidad metodológica de los ensayos y extrajeron los datos. Se presentaron los resultados con las diferencias de medias (mediante puntuaciones posprueba) ya que todos los resultados se midieron con la misma escala.

Resultados principales

Se incluyeron siete estudios (184 participantes). Los resultados indican que la estimulación auditiva rítmica (EAR) puede ser beneficiosa para mejorar los parámetros de la marcha en pacientes con accidente cerebrovascular, incluidos los parámetros de la velocidad de marcha, la cadencia, la longitud del paso y la simetría de la marcha. Estos resultados se basaron en dos estudios que recibieron una puntuación de bajo riesgo de sesgo. No hubo suficientes datos para examinar el efecto de la musicoterapia sobre otros resultados.

Conclusiones de los autores

La EAR puede ser beneficiosa para mejorar la marcha en pacientes con accidente cerebrovascular. Estos resultados son alentadores, pero se necesitan más ECA antes de que pueda recomendarse a la práctica clínica. Se necesitan más estudios de investigación para examinar los efectos de la musicoterapia sobre los otros resultados en pacientes con LCA.

Traducción

Traducción realizada por el Centro Cochrane Iberoamericano

View Full Article (HTML) Summary (58K)Standard (332K)Full (593K)