Abstract Background Patients with mental disorders, particularly those exhibiting anxiety symptoms, frequently encounter challenges such as medication side effects and poor treatment adherence during conventional therapies. In recent years, non-pharmacological approaches like music education have garnered significant attention due to their proven effectiveness in emotional regulation and minimal side effects. As an activity that facilitates emotional expression and self-regulation, music education can enhance patients' emotional stability and improve their mental health. This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic effects of music education on anxiety symptoms in psychiatric patients, while exploring its feasibility and clinical potential as an adjunctive treatment. Methods The study employed a randomized controlled trial design, enrolling 80 hospitalized patients diagnosed with psychiatric disorders accompanied by anxiety symptoms. All participants were aged 18 to 55 years with balanced gender distribution. Prior to enrollment, all patients underwent rigorous screening to exclude those with severe physical conditions or other mental disorders affecting anxiety symptoms. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (receiving music education intervention) or a control group, with 40 individuals in each group. The 8-week study period included three phases: pre-screening, intervention, and post-assessment. The experimental group participated in a 90-minute music education program delivered three times weekly by certified music therapists. The control group continued conventional medication treatment adjusted according to physician recommendations, without any music intervention or psychotherapy. Both groups underwent psychological assessments before and after the study to measure changes in anxiety symptoms and mental health status. Anxiety symptoms were evaluated using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), a clinically validated tool assessing 14 anxiety-related symptoms with a 56-point scale. Mental health status was assessed using the Mini Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5), a 25-point scale comprising five items evaluating emotional state, social functioning, and overall quality of life. Results After an 8-week music education intervention, the experimental group demonstrated significantly reduced HAM-A scores, with an overall decrease of 22% compared to baseline (p.05). Both state and trait anxiety showed measurable improvements, indicating that music education not only alleviates immediate stress but also positively influences persistent anxiety tendencies. The experimental group exhibited more substantial improvement in anxiety symptoms compared to the control group. Although the control group showed slight decreases in anxiety scores under conventional medication, the average reduction was less than 8% and statistically insignificant (p.05), suggesting limited efficacy of medication alone in anxiety management. In terms of mental health, the experimental group achieved significant improvements on the MHI-5 scale, demonstrating enhanced emotional resilience and a more positive psychological state (p.01). Post-intervention, most patients reported improved emotional stability, better sleep quality, and increased life motivation, with some showing more proactive social engagement. Discussion The study demonstrates that music education shows significant efficacy in treating anxiety symptoms among psychiatric patients, effectively alleviating symptoms and improving mental health. It not only helps stabilize patients' emotions but also promotes the recovery of their social functioning. Future research should further investigate the therapeutic effects of music education on different types of psychiatric patients and explore the optimal combination with other treatment approaches.
Yuanzhe Li (Sun,) studied this question.