THE IMPACT OF MUSIC AS A THERAPY FOR DEPRESSION

CHAPETR ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

Depression, sometimes known as major depressive disorder, is a mood illness that causes you to feel unhappy or uninterested in life on a regular basis. Most people experience sadness or depression at times. It's a natural response to failure or life's difficulties. When acute melancholy, including feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness, lasts for many days to weeks and prevents you from enjoying your life, it may be more than melancholy. You may be suffering from chronic depression, a treatable medical disorder.

Depression is one of the most prominent and prevalent psychiatric illnesses worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 322 million people worldwide suffered from clinical depression in 2017. According to the World Health Organization, depression will be the second leading cause of morbidity after coronary disease by 2021 (WHO 2017). Depression may have a profound impact on the whole human person, resulting in psychological stress, loss of social function, decreased quality of life, and higher disability rates. The weighted prevalence of depression for both present and lifetime was 2.7 percent and 5.2 percent, respectively, suggesting that almost one in 40 and one in 20 people suffer from past and present depression. Depression was shown to be more prevalent in females, those aged 40 to 49, and those living in metropolitan areas. Depression has been linked to a variety of reasons, including genetics, psychological factors (negative self-concept, pessimism, fear, and compulsive states, among others), and psychological trauma (Sharanabasappa A, & Sunitha G.2019). Furthermore, drug addiction or chronic disorders might contribute to depression (Therese B. 2017).

The mainstay in pharmacological therapy for depression is antidepressants, which are both efficient and useful. Several trials have since shown that non-pharmacological treatments such as aromatherapy and psychotherapy are effective in the treatment of depression (Bradt J., Potvin N., Kesslick A., Shim M., Radl D., Schriver E., Gracely E.J., Komarnicky-Kocher L.T. 2015).

Music therapy is one of the non-pharmacological treatments that has gained prominence in the treatment of depression in recent decades (Bradt J. et al 2015). The American Music Therapy Association defines music therapy as the "clinical and evidence-based use of music intervention to achieve customized objectives within a therapeutic relationship by a certified practitioner who has completed an accredited music therapy program" (AMTA) (Leubner D. & Hinterberger T. 2017). Music therapy is a quick and easy-to-administer procedure. Listening, performing, writing, or engaging with music can be used in therapeutic environments. There is proof from previous studies that music therapy is effective in the treatment of depression in people of working age. Music is utilized to address a broad variety of health issues, from pain to emotional relationship issues and is effective in maintaining cognitive, physical, and emotional health. Starting therapy sessions with relaxation and revisiting therapeutic topics outside of treatment have been regarded as promising for resulting improvements. The arrangement of various musical notes boosts mental wellness and may therefore be utilized to control sad people's unpleasant sensations and loneliness.

 Therefore it is upon this premise that this study is set to examine The impact of music as a therapy for depression.

1.2 Statement of the problem

Depression is a public health issue that creates major social dysfunction and enhances the usage of health-care services, especially where it goes undiagnosed and untreated. It is distinguished by psychiatric symptoms such as chronic low mood, anhedonia, anergia, weight fluctuations, poor or elevated appetite, insomnia or hypersomnia, psychomotor retardation or anxiety, feelings of worthlessness or undue shame, poor focus, and suicidal ideation. Other signs of depression include weeping spells, feeling isolated, a sense of energy, a heightened awareness of discomfort, anxiety, and irritability. The majority of these signs may be present on a continuous basis (every day or many days, most of the time) and can impair various degrees of personal, social, and professional everyday life working for at least two weeks. d. It is distinguished by psychiatric symptoms such as chronic low mood, anhedonia, anergia, weight fluctuations, poor or elevated appetite, insomnia or hypersomnia, psychomotor retardation or anxiety, feelings of worthlessness or undue shame, poor focus, and suicidal ideation. Other signs of depression include weeping spells, feeling isolated, a sense of energy, a heightened awareness of discomfort, anxiety, and irritability. The majority of these signs may be present on a continuous basis (every day or many days, most of the time) and can impair various degrees of personal, social, and professional everyday life working for at least two weeks.

In a resource-poor Nigerian climate, the family and societal ecology are rapidly shifting, which is conducive to the emergence of depression. Nigerians are expected to face more serious health problems due to the increasing prevalence of social inequality and national economic crisis if the tide is not turned. While successful therapies for depression are available in Nigeria, many individuals with depression do not have access to proper care, and enduring one episode of depression puts a person at risk for experiencing another episode and raises the likelihood of getting more depressive symptoms in the future. Although clinical researchers have proposed treatments for the treatment of depression that include both pharmaceutical and non-pharmacological treatments, it is important to consider how many individuals suffering from various episodes of depression can not afford pharmaceutical therapy and hence turn to non-pharmacological treatments such as music therapy. Many studies have shown that music may help with things like increasing awareness and sensitivity to pleasant emotions, as well as improving mental symptoms (Sharanabasappa A. et al 2019). Several studies have shown that classical, percussion (drumming-based), and jazz music may help with depression treatment. As a result, the purpose of this research was to look at the effectiveness of music therapy in lessening the severity of depression.

1.3 Objective of the study

The broad objective of this study is to examine  the impact of music as a therapy for depression. Specifically it will examine the concept, symptoms and factors that leads to depression. It will investigate if music therapy can reduce the severity of depression alongside with other pharmacological therapies.

1.4 Research Hypothesis

H0: Music therapy does not reduce the severity of depression alongside with other pharmacological therapies.

H0 : There is no significant impact of music  as a therapy for depression

1.5 Significance of the study

This study study will be significant to medical practitioners and adults who are prone to depressive tendencies. To adult, this study will enlighten them on the need  to listen to genres of music that can uplift their spirit, make them happy and succor them when they feel challenged by frustrating situations . To medical personnel, this study will enable them to ascertain episode of depressive conditions which can simply be treated with non pharmacological therapies such as music thus prescribe them adequately for patients alongside other therapies of treatment.Finally this study will be helpful to medical student, it will contribute to the body of knowledge, serve as a reference material for other researchers and provide opportunities for further inquiry in depression studies.

1.6 Scope of the study

The scope of this study dwells on the impact of music as a therapy for depression. Specifically it will examine the concept, symptoms and factors that leads to depression. It will investigate if music therapy can reduce the severity of depression alongside with other pharmacological therapies. However this study is limited to selected hospitals in Ikoyi, Lagos State.

1.7 Limitation of the study

The following posed to be a constarint to the study

Financial constraint– Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
Time constraint– The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

However in the midst  above mentioned limitation the researcher devotedly ensured that the purpose of the study was actualized.

1.8 Definition of the study

Depression: Depression is a mood disorder that can affect a person's daily life. It may be described as feelings of sadness, loss, or anger.  Depression is a common mental health problem that involves a low mood and a loss of interest in activities. 

Therapy: A therapy or medical treatment is the attempted remediation of a health problem, usually following a medical diagnosis. 

Music: Music is an art of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotions in significant forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, and color

Pharmacological Therapy: Pharmacotherapy (pharmacology) is the treatment of a disorder or disease with medication. In the treatment of addiction or depression, anti-depressant medications are used to reduce the intensity of withdrawal symptoms and reduce the severity of depression

Non-Pharmacological Therapy: Non-pharmacological pain therapy refers to interventions that do not involve the use of medications to treat pain. The goals of non-pharmacological interventions are to decrease fear, distress and anxiety, and to reduce pain and provide patients with a sense of control.

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