Children and teenagers with emotional and behavioural problems may be less likely to become depressed if they undergo music therapy, researchers at Queen's University in Belfast have found.

Music therapy combines psychology and music with the aim of improving the quality of life of a person. As everybody is capable of responding to music, the participant does not need any musical skills. It can include a range of techniques, such as singing, writing songs, movement to music, playing an instrument and analysing lyrics.

In the largest study of its kind, 251 young people were monitored between March 2011 and May 2014. The children, all of whom were being treated for emotional or behavioural problems, were split into two groups.

The first group of 128 were provided with their usual level of care. The second group of 123 received the usual level of care, but also underwent music therapy.

The study found that children who underwent music therapy had much better self-esteem and were significantly less like to be depressed than those who had only received their normal treatment.

It also found that those who underwent music therapy saw an improvement in their interaction and communication skills.

"This study is hugely significant in terms of determining effective treatments for children and young people with behavioural problems and mental health needs," commented the study's lead author, Prof Sam Porter, of Queen's University.

Also commenting on the findings, Ciara Reilly, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust, noted that while music therapy has often been used on young people with certain mental health issues, ‘this is the first time its effectiveness has been shown by a definitive randomised controlled trial in a clinical setting'.

"The findings are dramatic and underscore the need for music therapy to be made available as a mainstream treatment option. For a long time we have relied on anecdotal evidence and small-scale research findings about how well music therapy works. Now we have robust clinical evidence to show its beneficial effects," she said.

The findings were presented at a recent conference at Queen's University.

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