Guidelines for Group music therapy in chronic depression
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Focus groups to develop best practice guidelines in group music therapy for chronic depression
IRAS ID
198964
Contact name
Catherine Carr
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
East London NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 30 days
Research summary
Depression involves ongoing feelings of sadness or low mood and loss of interest in activities. Around one in five depressed people have 'chronic depression' where symptoms last for longer than two years. Finding the right treatment combination can be difficult and costly. People may give up trying treatments if little improves over time. Music therapy might appeal as it is a different approach, encourages creativity and self-expression. We know individual music therapy can be effective in encouraging people with low motivation to attend therapy and reducing depression. Group music therapy might also improve people's relationships, quality of life and have positive immediate effects on mood.
This study aims to refine music therapy to meet the needs of people with chronic depression. We will ask patients, music therapists and psychologists for their views on how best to set up a music therapy group for people with chronic depression. We will run 4 discussion groups (focus groups) with music therapists and psychologists and hold interviews with up to 16 service users with lived experience of depression.
The discussions will be written up word for word (transcribed). We will then group similar ideas together (thematic analysis) and use these to draft guidelines for practice.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NW/0240
Date of REC Opinion
7 Apr 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion