MUSIC therapy, as part of a structured intervention embedded in NHS dementia wards, was found to be feasible, safe, and potentially effective in reducing distress for patients, with no reported adverse events or increases in incident rates.
Distress is common among people with dementia admitted to mental health hospital wards, yet there are limited alternatives to psychotropic medication for managing these symptoms. As the need grows for non-pharmacological interventions, music therapy is increasingly recognised for its potential to provide compassionate, person-centred care. The MELODIC (Music therapy Embedded in the Life Of Dementia Inpatient Care) protocol is a co-designed music therapy approach developed by researchers at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, tailored to address distress among dementia patients in inpatient hospital settings.
In this pilot study, the MELODIC intervention was implemented across two NHS mental health dementia wards, engaging 28 patients, 13 family members, and 48 staff members over four weeks. A qualified music therapist was embedded within the ward’s multidisciplinary team to lead clinical music sessions and to co-produce personalised care plans for each patient. Staff and family received additional training to incorporate music into everyday care. Researchers assessed feasibility through recruitment rates, treatment adherence, and completeness of data collection, alongside questionnaires and interviews before and after the intervention. The study reported high recruitment and data completion, as well as strong adherence to the intervention protocol. Quantitative results indicated a slight improvement in patient quality-of-life scores and a reduction in distress and disruptiveness, although agitation scores increased marginally. Crucially, there was no increase in routinely reported incidents or adverse events linked to the music therapy, suggesting the intervention’s safety in a challenging ward environment.
The findings demonstrate that a structured, co-designed music therapy protocol is both feasible and acceptable for dementia inpatient care, offering promising non-pharmacological support for distress management. For clinical practice, embedding music therapists and integrating tailored music interventions can provide a scalable, low-cost alternative or adjunct to medication, involving patients, staff, and families collaboratively in care. However, larger controlled trials are necessary to establish the clinical effectiveness and broader applicability of the protocol and to refine elements in response to staff and patient feedback. If proven effective, this approach could impact standard practice across dementia care wards.
Reference
Thompson N et al. Music therapy Embedded in the Life Of Dementia Inpatient Care (MELODIC) to help prevent and manage distress: a feasibility study to inform a future trial. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 2025;DOI:10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1618324.
