The effectiveness of five-element music therapy for post-stroke depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis

IntroductionFive-element music therapy is widely utilized as a complementary approach in stroke rehabilitation, particularly for addressing post-stroke depression (PSD). This study systematically evaluates the clinical impact of five-element music therapy on individuals experiencing PSD.MethodsA comprehensive search of nine electronic databases, encompassing published and unpublished gray literature up to February 15, 2022, was conducted. Two investigators independently reviewed and extracted data, evaluating bias risk according to predefined criteria. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software.ResultsInclusive of 20 studies involving 1561 individuals with PSD, the meta-analysis revealed a significant difference in favor of five-element music therapy for relieving depression (standardized mean difference [SMD] = −1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −1.34 to −0.81, P < 0.00001), improving daily living abilities (SMD = 2.49, 95% CI 1.00 to 3.98, P < 0.00001), and elevating serum 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) levels (SMD = 0.87, 95% CI 0.56 to 1.17, P < 0.00001).ConclusionFive-element music therapy demonstrated efficacy in improving depressive symptoms, daily living skills, and serum 5-HT levels in individuals experiencing PSD.The review was registered on International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (registration number CRD 42022332282).