Advances in music therapy for the treatment of agitation

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2026.01.012

Abstract

Abstract:

Agitation is a common symptom in psychiatric clinical practice, typically accompanied by emotional fluctuations and aggressive behaviors, which significantly impair patients′ treatment outcomes and pose safety risks to healthcare providers. Abnormal prefrontal cortex function and various neurotransmitter imbalances are considered the primary biological mechanisms underlying the onset of agitation. Music therapy, as a non-pharmacological intervention, has been shown to effectively alleviate agitation by enhancing brain functional connectivity, modulating neurotransmitter activity, and regulating physiological stress responses. Furthermore, music therapy has demonstrated positive therapeutic effects in clinical applications for patients with specific psychiatric conditions, such as Alzheimer′s disease, traumatic brain injury, and schizophrenia. Future research should focus on further elucidating the neurobiological mechanisms by which music therapy mitigates agitation, exploring the integration of multimodal interventions, and evaluating long-term efficacy, in order to facilitate its widespread clinical implementation and continuous optimization.

Key words: music therapy, agitation, emotional accommodation, mental disorder

CLC Number:

R749

Yang Vivien, Chen Yiming, Hong Wu. Advances in music therapy for the treatment of agitation[J]. Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Medical Science), 2026, 46(1): 100-106.

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References 41

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