Thirteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

Aging and advanced age cause different pathologies in people, including anxiety, depression, and dementia. The treatment of their symptoms requires innovative approaches, able to reduce the high cost of treatments and the side effects of traditional pharmacological interventions. Music therapy, together with other musical interventions, has gained popularity as a non-pharmacological treatment for elderly people with dementia or depressive symptoms. Our objective has been to analyze the scientific production on the use of music therapy for elderly people through a bibliometric and content analysis of the scientific publications within the last five years. To this end, a retrospective ex post facto design has been used, taking into account the Scopus and Web of Science databases. The results of the publications suggest that music therapy programs in gerontological patients improve social skills and cognitive abilities in the short term, causing an undoubted improvement in patients who presented depressive states. In addition, there are improvements in relationships between equals, reduced conflicts, and a better atmosphere of peaceful coexistence, thanks to the development of social skills strategies and an increase in empathy. In recent years, studies on the use of music therapy in gerontology have increased, although more attention is needed to integrate it with other interventions in the health field and to advance in the design for the effectiveness of the different programs.