Playing musical instruments can help adults overcome depression

A research has suggested that playing musical instruments can help people overcome depression.

Researchers found that adults who were given music therapy sessions, in which they played drums or instruments such as xylophones, showed fewer symptoms of depression or anxiety than those who just had standard counselling.

They suggested that it helped patients express their emotions along with being a pleasurable activity in its own right.

"We found that people often expressed their inner pressure and feelings by drumming or with the tones produced with a mallet instrument. Some people described their playing experience as cathartic," the Telegraph quoted Professor Jaakko Erkkila, who led the study at the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland, as saying.

Prof Christian Gold said: "Our trial has shown that music therapy, when added to standard care including medication, psychotherapy and counselling, helps people to improve their levels of depression and anxiety.

"Music therapy has specific qualities that allow people to express themselves and interact in a non-verbal way - even in situations when they cannot find the words to describe their inner experiences," added Gold.

The study has been published in the British Journal of Psychiatry.