BACKGROUND:

Music therapy may provide a means of improving mental health among people with schizophrenia, but its effects in acute psychoses have not been explored.

AIMS:

To examine the feasibility of a randomised trial of music therapy for inpatients with schizophrenia, and explore its effects on mental health.

METHOD:

Up to 12 weeks of individual music therapy plus standard care were compared with standard care alone. Masked assessments of mental health, global functioning and satisfaction with care were conducted at 3 months.

RESULTS:

Of 115 eligible patients 81 (70%) were randomised. Two-thirds of those randomised to music therapy attended at least four sessions (median attendance, eight sessions). Multivariate analysis demonstrated a trend towards improved symptom scores among those randomised to music therapy, especially in general symptoms of schizophrenia.

CONCLUSIONS:

A randomised trial of music therapy for in-patients with schizophrenia is feasible. The effects and cost-effectiveness of music therapy for acute psychosis should be further explored in an explanatory randomised trial.