The Influence of Group Singing Therapy on the Behavior of Alzheimer's Disease Patients

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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of therapeutic group singing on the behavior of Alzheimer's disease patients. Ten patients, 7 women and 3 men, were selected for the study. The patients resided in a nursing home with a unit specifically designed for patients with Alzheimer's disease. Sessions were held twice weekly for 30 minutes for 5 weeks. A reversal design (ABABA) was incorporated with subjects serving as their own control. Baseline Condition A consisted of discussion sessions, while Treatment Condition B consisted of therapeutic singing. Two observers took data on individuals, using a behavioral checklist. Hypotheses were: (a) frequencies of physical and social behaviors exhibited during and/or immediately following therapeutic group singing sessions would be significantly different than discussion sessions, (b) the amount of vocal/verbal participation would be significantly higher in therapeutic group singing sessions than in discussion sessions, and (c) group singing therapy would have a significant effect on the frequencies of physical and social behaviors exhibited after the therapeutic sessions. Data were analyzed using an analysis of variance. Results showed: (a) a significant difference between baseline and treatment sessions for two behaviors, (b) significantly higher vocal/verbal participation in treatment sessions, and (c) a significant change in one behavior exhibited after treatment sessions (p <. 05).

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