Research Proposal on Music Therapy for Alzheimer's Patients

Behaviors exhibited by Alzheimer's patients include anxiety, depression, agitation, and violence. These behaviors both individually and as a complex group create difficulties for caregivers. Where possible, therapies and management procedures other than pharmacological medications and physical restraint are desirable for use in moderating such behaviors in Alzheimer's patients. Music therapy, which has been used with some success in other patients, has been suggested as an intervention for Alzheimer's patients experiencing anxiety, depression, agitation, and violence. Assessing the feasibility of music therapy as an intervention for Alzheimer's patients is proposed as a research focus.

A total of 20 subjects diagnosed as suffering from Alzheimer's disease will be selected from among the population of Alzheimer's patients at a participating long-term care facility. The selection of subjects will be made through the application of random procedures. The selection of subjects will not be restricted on the basis of age, gender, education, or physical condition. The anticipation, however, is that most subjects will be over the age of 65 and that females and males will be equally represented in the sample.

Subjects will be observed in their normal settings prior to the conduct of the music therapy. During this observation, data relevant to the dependent variables will be collected and recorded.

Music therapy will be provided to patients on an individual basis.

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s as follows: What effect does music therapy have on Alzheimer's patients with respect to (1) anxiety levels, (2) disruptive behavior, and (3) violent behavior. Three hypotheses will be tested in relation to this research question. These hypotheses are as follows: 1. Subjects receiving music therapy will exhibit lower levels of anxiety in the two hours following the end of the therapy than they exhibited in the two hours preceding the therapy. 2. Subjects receiving music therapy will exhibit fewer episodes of disruptive behavior in the two hours following the end of the therapy than they exhibited in the two hours preceding the therapy. 3. Subjects receiving music therapy will exhibit fewer episodes of violent behavior in the two hours following the end of the therapy than they exhibited in the two hours preceding the therapy. With respect to each hypothesis, the independent variable will be the period of activity for the subjects. The independent variable will be defined operationally as (1) the two-hour period immediately prior to receiving music therapy and (2) the two-hour period immediately following music therapy. With respect to hypothesis number one, the dependent variable will be the level of patient anxiety.

Category: Medical - R