Impact of Light Music as an Adjunct to Pharmacotherapy in Depression: A Comparative Clinical Study

Background: Depression is a prevalent mental health disorder with various treatment options. Pharmacotherapy remains the primary line of treatment; however, complementary therapies such as music therapy have shown promise in improving outcomes. This study investigates the impact of light music as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy in patients with depression, comparing outcomes between a group receiving pharmacotherapy with light music and a group receiving pharmacotherapy alone. Methods: Arandomized controlled study was conducted with 60 patients diagnosed with depressive disorder. Participants were divided into two groups: Group A(n=30) received pharmacotherapy combined with light music, while Group B (n=30) received pharmacotherapy alone. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) was used to assess the severity of depression at baseline and at the end of three weeks. Additional variables including demographic characteristics, past psychiatric history, stressors, and interpersonal relationships were also examined. Results: Group A showed a significant reduction in HAM-D scores compared to Group B at the end of three weeks (5.77 ± 2.28 vs. 7.27 ± 2.65, p=0.0222). In Group A, SSRIs were associated with a greater reduction in HAM-D scores compared to SNRIs (4.77 ± 1.34 vs. 8.50 ± 2.13, p<0.001). Demographic factors, including gender and family type, influenced outcomes, with males and those in nuclear families showing a stronger response to the intervention (p=0.007). Participants in Group Alistening to recent film music showed a lower HAM-D score compared to those preferring old film music or devotional songs by the end of the study (p=0.057). Conclusion: Light music as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy significantly enhances treatment outcomes in patients with depression. The findings suggest that incorporating music therapy into standard care protocols could offer a novel, non-invasive, and cost-effective approach to managing depression. Future studies should further explore the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of music.