In practice, these young people had to continue their current treatment whatsoever, but half of them, chosen at random, in addition to participating in a music therapy program facilitated by an expert: free improvisation individual workshops thirty minutes weekly for twelve weeks. Professional playing or doing play by the child's wishes and had several instruments. The authors used several rating scales to test the quality and quantity of oral and social exchanges, self-esteem, depression or family functioning before and after the program and three months after.
A program based on communication and creativity
At the end of twelve weeks, the researchers found a significant reduction in depressive symptoms in children who have taken the music program. They also noted a marked improvement in self-esteem in this group in general, as well as significant progress in oral communication, especially for 13-16 years. "This is the first study provides robust results. In addition, the three-month follow-up, still in progress, seems to show that these improvements are maintained over time. They are certainly related to the choice of program based on trade, communication and creativity, explained Professor Sam Porter, responsible for the work at Queen's University of Belfast and its associated Dr Valerie Holmes. The idea is not to replace the treatments but to offer a complementary therapeutic approach for these children whose care is difficult, sometimes with random results. And long-term follow-up will tell if it reduces antidepressant doses. "
It is impossible at this stage to explain why music produced these effects. "What we know is that music is a vector that brain plasticity induced rearrangements between very large neural networks, including new connections. This benefits many areas near these networks: the fact of playing the piano, for example, can improve motor skills in people with a brain injury, singing or musical creation can facilitate language in aphasic individuals, shows Emmanuel Bigand, professor of cognitive psychology at the University of Burgundy (Dijon) and member of the Institut Universitaire de France. We also know that music promotes the release of dopamine and therefore is likely to alter brain chemistry with perhaps prolonged effects in a few days or weeks. "But not yet clear whether these mechanisms can reduce depressive symptoms. Also note that it is not enough to listen to music to heal. "The benefits are observed according to particular patterns of music therapy and music styles to suit disorder and targets," he recalls.
In France, between 2-3% of children and 14% of teenagers suffer from depression.
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