THE EFFECT OF MUSIC THERAPY ON CONTROLLING MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL ILLNESSES

Abstract

As society ages, so does the number of mental illness diagnoses, with dementia—a major neurocognitive disorder—being the most prevalent diagnosis among older adults. Research shows that medical consultations and the use of multiple medications are often insufficient to control the disease. Studies on other therapeutic methods have demonstrated favorable results regarding the use of music as therapy. Thus, this paper sought to present some of these promising results of music as a nonpharmacological remedy, describing musical influence as a therapeutic approach in the treatment of elderly patients with mental illness. In this context, this paper aims to demonstrate the benefits of music therapy in the aging process and correlate them with the well-being of older adults in its various aspects: physical, mental, and emotional. First, it contextualizes the emergence of musicality as a therapy from the mid-20th century to its current use. The research method used was a qualitative and quantitative study conducted as fieldwork with a group of seniors from the Dores de Macabu District, Campos dos Goytacazes. This descriptive study was based on bibliographic and documentary research. The theoretical framework presented provides a series of reflections that contribute to a broader understanding of musicality as a therapeutic approach in the context of aging. The results indicated that the use of music therapy contributed to an improvement in the participants’ quality of life. Musicality was also identified as a way for these seniors to overcome loneliness, contributing to independence, autonomy, and improved self-esteem.