Effect of music therapy intervention on physical functions and mental health of patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Abstract

Background: This study aims to investigate the influence of traditional Chinese music on the physical and psychological functions of hospitalized patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Subjects and methods: A total of 120 patients with AS admitted to the People's Hospital of Anhui Province between March 2018 and March 2019 were randomly divided into experiment and control groups. The experiment group was a traditional music group composed of 56 patients, namely, 50 males and 6 females. The control group was further divided into a painting group and a routine treatment group with a total of 64 patients, namely, 48 males and 16 females. The physical and psychological functions of each group of patients before and after the intervention were assessed in terms of physical and psychological function dimensions obtained before and after the intervention. Results: After 8 weeks of treatment, the score in terms of physical functions is the highest in the music group (P<0.05), and the difference in eating functions is statistically significant (P<0.001). This finding suggests that the music group is better than the painting group and the routine treatment group (P<0.05). In terms of the score in sexual functions, the following trend is observed: Music group>painting group>routine treatment group. The difference in their psychological functions is statistically significant (P<0.001). In terms of the score in psychological functions, the following trend is obtained: Music group>painting group>routine treatment group. The three groups significantly differ in their scores in mental tension, negative emotion, positive emotion, cognitive functions, and self-esteem. All of these dimensions show the following pattern: Music group>painting group>routine treatment group. Cross-group comparisons between the three groups are also statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusions: Traditional Chinese music therapy and painting therapy can promote the recovery of patients' physical and psychological functions. Traditional Chinese music intervention therapy is better than painting therapy and routine hospitalization in promoting the recovery of physical and psychological functions of hospitalized patients.