The efficacy of music therapy for post-stroke depression: A meta-analysis

Medicine (Baltimore). 2025 Oct 24;104(43):e44949. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000044949.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Music can stimulate the central nervous system and may exert calming, analgesic, and negative emotion-reducing effects. It has been applied in the treatment of various psychological disorders, including post-stroke depression (PSD). This study systematically assesses the efficacy of music therapy in improving depressive symptoms in patients with PSD.

METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted in 9 databases including Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang, covering all publications up to January 7, 2024. Two researchers independently screened articles on music therapy interventions for PSD. Quality assessment and meta-analysis were performed using RevMan 5.3.

RESULTS: A total of 37 randomized controlled trials with 2776 patients were included in the study. Meta-analysis showed that music was effective in improving Hamilton depression scale scores (mean differences [MD] = -4.76, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -6.11 to -3.40, P < .00001), Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale scores (MD = -5.25, 95% CI: -6.20 to -4.30, P < .00001), Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale scores (MD = -7.34, 95% CI: -8.71 to -5.97, P < .00001), Barthel index (MD = 13.59, 95% CI: 6.83-20.35, P < .00001, activities of daily living scores (MD = 13.09, 95% CI: 4.12-22.05, P < .00001), neurological deficit score (standardized mean difference = -1.62, 95% CI: -1.88 to -1.35, P < .00001), 5-hydroxytryptamine (MD = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.56-1.16, P < .00001) in PSD patients compared to the conventional rehabilitation group.

CONCLUSION: Music therapy has demonstrated significant clinical efficacy in improving depressive symptoms, daily living skills, the degree of neurological deficits, and serum 5-hydroxytryptamine levels in individuals with PSD.

PMID:41137304 | DOI:10.1097/MD.0000000000044949