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A Systematic Review of Scientific Studies and Case Reports on Music and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

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  • Thanh Phuong Anh Truong

    (Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
    Mental Health Studies Program, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AB, UK)

  • Briana Applewhite

    (Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK)

  • Annie Heiderscheit

    (Department of Music Therapy, Augsburg University, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA)

  • Hubertus Himmerich

    (Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
    South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM), London SE5 8AZ, UK)

Abstract

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a severe psychiatric disorder, which can be associated with music-related symptoms. Music may also be used as an adjunct treatment for OCD. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we performed a systematic literature review exploring the relationship between music and OCD by using three online databases: PubMed, the Web of Science, and PsycINFO. The search terms were “obsessive compulsive disorder”, “OCD”, “music”, and “music therapy”. A total of 27 articles were utilised ( n = 650 patients/study participants) and grouped into three categories. The first category comprised case reports of patients with musical obsessions in patients with OCD. Most patients were treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or a combination of an SSRI and another pharmacological or a non-pharmacological treatment, with variable success. Studies on the music perception of people with OCD or obsessive-compulsive personality traits represented the second category. People with OCD or obsessive-compulsive personality traits seem to be more sensitive to tense music and were found to have an increased desire for harmony in music. Three small studies on music therapy in people with OCD constituted the third category. These studies suggest that patients with OCD might benefit from music therapy, which includes listening to music.

Suggested Citation

  • Thanh Phuong Anh Truong & Briana Applewhite & Annie Heiderscheit & Hubertus Himmerich, 2021. "A Systematic Review of Scientific Studies and Case Reports on Music and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-23, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:22:p:11799-:d:676265
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David Moher & Alessandro Liberati & Jennifer Tetzlaff & Douglas G Altman & The PRISMA Group, 2009. "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(7), pages 1-6, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Amy Rose Hunter & Annie Heiderscheit & Megan Galbally & Davide Gravina & Hiba Mutwalli & Hubertus Himmerich, 2023. "The Effects of Music-Based Interventions for Pain and Anxiety Management during Vaginal Labour and Caesarean Delivery: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis of Randomised Controlled Trials," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(23), pages 1-26, November.
    2. Rowan Haslam & Annie Heiderscheit & Hubertus Himmerich, 2022. "A Systematic Review of Scientific Studies on the Effects of Music in People with Personality Disorders," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-27, November.

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