Music therapy alleviates the effects of autism
A recent Cochrane Review finds evidence of a number of beneficial effects of music therapy for autistic people.
Music therapy is likely to lead to an improvement in overall symptoms by the end of therapy compared to placebo therapy or standard treatment (GRADE rating of the certainty of the evidence: moderate). It is also likely to help improve quality of life and alleviate individual symptoms.
Music therapy probably does not lead to adverse events. The evidence does not indicate whether music therapy improves social interaction and verbal and non-verbal communication by the end of therapy. A number of unanswered research questions remain, particularly regarding the longer-term effects of music therapy.
Original publication:
Geretsegger M, Fusar-Poli L, Elefant C, Mössler KA, Vitale G, Gold C. Music therapy for autistic people. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2022, Issue 5. Art. No.: CD004381. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004381.pub4.
