The Effect of Musical Excerpts on the Evocation of Values for Depressed Patients

Abstract

This article describes the results of research regarding the effect of musical excerpts on the evocation of values for depressed patients. During Phase I of the study, a reliable and valid list of values and a questionnaire were drawn up, and musical excerpts were selected. During Phase II, patients (N = 44) with major depression or depressive neurosis listened to 16 musical excerpts, twice, with an intervening period of one to one and one-half months. Patients were asked to select from a list values that they felt were elicited by the music. Statistical analyses revealed that groups of musical excerpts evoked groups of values (discriminant functions). Other variables related to the values evoked by music included: the type of depression, specific characteristics of depression, life events, recovery, music education, and music listening behavior.