Music Interventions for Depression & Dementia in Elderly Care (MIDDEL)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Music Interventions for Dementia and Depression in ELderly care (MIDDEL): a multinational cluster-randomised trial
IRAS ID
279819
Contact name
Justine Schneider
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NORCE Research Institute
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
ACTRN12618000156280, Pre-results
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Music Interventions for Depression & Dementia in Elderly Care
In older adults, dementia and depression are associated with individual distress and
high societal costs. Music interventions such as group music therapy (GMT) and recreational choir singing (RCS) have shown promising effects, but their comparative effectiveness is unknown. This project is investigating how music impacts levels of depression and symptoms of dementia in older people living in residential aged care facilities. It is part of a larger international study involving European and Australian investigators. The project will study the impact of music on wellbeing for those living in residential care facilities in England, primarily in the east midlands, over a 12-month period.
Each care home participating in the study will be randomly allocated into one of 4 groups and all consenting residents will participate in that allocated group. Group 1, the control group, will receive usual care. Group 2 will receive group music therapy (GMT). GMT is offered by a music therapist and may use a variety of activities ranging from singing through instrumental music making to music listening. Group 3 will receive recreational choir singing (RCS). RCS is often facilitated by a choir leader and focuses centrally on singing. Group 4 will receive both GMT and RCS. GMT, RCS or both will be provided twice weekly for the first 3 months, followed by weekly sessions for the next 3 months. Each session will last 45 minutes. Extension will be allowed if locally available.
Over the 12-month period, we will be collecting a range of data that will help us understand whether music has or has not helped participants to become happier, have a better quality of life, and display less distressing symptoms of dementia.REC name
Wales REC 4
REC reference
20/WA/0226
Date of REC Opinion
16 Oct 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion