A Controlled Study Of Therapeutic Effects Of Wuxing Music On Chronic Schizophrenia

This paper mainly consists of two parts-literature review and clinical research. Theformer will describe clinical applications of music therapy to schizophrenia since it wasinitially introduced into China, also summarize its elimination of schizoid symptoms,alleviation of mood disorders, improvement of social abilities, and other advantages oftreatment for Symptoms of schizophrenia. Additionally, we reviewed literatures related toWuxing Music for mental diseases as well as for other clinical disciplines. At last, we willdiscuss some limits of current study to provide a reference for further study.Objective: This study is intended to objectively assess Wuxing music therapy forschizophrenia and provide some experimental data for its applications by observation ofclinical effects of Wuxing Music on chronic schizophrenic patients and comparison ofadvantages and disadvantages between Wuxing music and western music.Methods: Sixty chronic schizophrenic inpatients were divided into three groupsaveragely: Wuxing music therapy plus Risperidone (group A), western music therapy plusRisperidone (group B), Risperidone drug therapy alone (group C). General data werecollected before enrollment. A variety of rating scales were scored at inclusion,1week,2week,4weeks, respectively, such as BPRS, SANS, HAMA, HAMD, and CGI, to assesspatients’ schizoid symptoms, negative symptoms, anxiety, depression, and clinicaloutcomes. Drug compliance were recorded by PSP rating scale, which can also measuresocial function,at inclusion,2week,4weeks, and one month after discharge. SDSS scalewere used to assess patients’ social defects at inclusion and one month after discharge. Alldata collected above were analyzed statistically. Any difference were compared betweentwo groups at each measure point, and a comparison was made among all measure pointswithin any group.Results:(1) As for BPRS, scores at week4for group A were significantly better thangroup C (P<0.01), and scores at other measure points were negative among groups. All scores within the same group at the latter measure point were better than the former(P<0.01).(2) As for SANS, scores at week2for group A or B were significantly betterthan group C (P<0.05), scores at week4for group A or B were significantly better thangroup C (P<0.01, P<0.05; respectively), and scores at other measure points were negativeamong groups. All scores within the same group at the latter measure point were betterthan the former (P<0.01).(3) As for HAMA, scores at week2for group A weresignificantly better than group C (P<0.05), scores at week4for group A or B weresignificantly better than group C (P<0.01), and scores at other measure points werenegative among groups. As for group A or B, scores within the same group at the lattermeasure point were better than the former (P<0.01). As for group C, scores at week4werebetter than at inclusion (P<0.01) and negative results for comparisons among othermeasure points.(4) As for HAMD, scores at week2for group A were significantly betterthan group C (P<0.05). Scores at week4for group A or B were significantly better thangroup C (P<0.01, P<0.05; respectively). Scores at week4for group A were significantlybetter than group B (P<0.05), and scores at other measure points were negative amonggroups. All scores within the same group at the latter measure point were better than theformer (P<0.01) with exception of comparison between week1and at inclusion for groupC.(5) As for CGI, scores at week4for group A or B were significantly better than groupC (P<0.05), and scores at other measure points were negative comparisons among groups.Scores within the same group at the latter measure point were better than the former(P<0.05) with exception of comparisons within group C.(6) As for drug compliance,scores at week4for group A were significantly better than pre-treatment (P<0.05), and noobvious differences were found for both group B and C. There was no difference found for3groups when comparisons made between scores of1month after discharge and week4.The compliance rate was at a high value for3groups, then slightly decreased afterdischarge, but no statistical differences were found.(7) As for PSP, scores at week4forgroup A or B were significantly better than group C (P<0.01, P<0.05, respectively). Scoresat1month after discharge for group A or B were significantly better than group C (P<0.05).No obvious difference was found among groups at other measure points. There weresignificant differences among values at inclusion, week2, and week4for group A or B (P<0.01), and a negative result for group C.(8) As for SDSS, scores at1month afterdischarge for group A were significantly better than group C (P<0.05). No obviousdifference was found among groups at other measure points. For each group, scores aftertreatment were significantly better than before treatment.Conclusion: In conjunction with drug therapy for chronic schizophrenia, Wuxingmusic therapy can play a role of elimination of positive symptoms, reduction of negativesymptoms, remission of anxiety and depression, improvement of clinical outcome,enhancement of social function, and finally to attain a favourable result. Since theadvantage of Wuxing music than western music may lie in improvement of depressionmood for chronic schizophrenias, it should not be considered that Wuxing music be betterthan western music definitely. However, Wuxing music may be valuable to be applied dueto its non-replaceable advantages, i.e., a practical and effective means of safety but noadverse effect.