Intentional Music Listening Can Treat Depression In Adults And Children

Music therapy has the power to treat depression, soothe the brain and cure speech impediments, according to music therapists.

"Music can change the way you breathe, so it can help your brain calm down," Dr. Gail Gross, a family, child and human behavior expert said. She also told Fox News that there was a research that showed listening to music can have the same effect on well-being just like having meditation.

Jennifer Buchanan, a Canadian music therapist and the author of "Tune In: A Music Therapy Approach to Life" said that music can stimulate many parts of the brain and intentional music learning is a key to psychological rehabilitation. She suggested to sit  in a quiet place and do nothing but listen to music.

"The research is suggesting that we are looking for about 10 minutes to 20, 25 minutes of intentional music listening can put you right into the headspace," Buchanan explained.

Science Daily reports another study from Queen's University Belfast that involved 251 children and adolescents. They were treated for behavioral, developmental and emotional problems and distributed into two groups: 123 were allocated to music therapy and 128 underwent the usual care options.

The outcome shows that music therapy can reduce depression in adolescents and children with behavioral and emotional problems. It also improves their interactive and communicative skills.

Music therapy has often been used with children and young people with particular mental health needs, but this is the first time its effectiveness has been shown by a definition randomized controlled trial in a clinical setting. The findings are dramatic and underscore the need for music therapy to be made available as a mainstream treatment option as shared by the reports.

"For a long time, we have relied on anecdotal evidence and small-scale research findings of how well music therapy works. Now we have robust clinical evidence to show its beneficial effect," Ciara Keilly, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland, Music Therapy Trust, said.