The Intervention Effect and Potential Neural Mechanisms of Music Therapy in Children and Adolescents with Mood Disorders

Each music therapy session will include 5 stages. In stage 1, an emotional assessment is conducted to observe the patient's current emotional experience and feelings (provide a VAD score), which lasts about 1 minute. In stage 2, relaxation exercises (breathing relaxation, progressive muscle relaxation, and imaginary relaxation) are conducted under the guidance of the therapist to the music corresponding to the relaxation target VAD, which lasts about 8 minutes. In stage 3, the patient independently selects the music and discusses it with the therapist, which lasts about 10 minutes. In stage 4, the patient listens to resource and positive-oriented music and discusses specific topics with the therapist, which lasts about 10 minutes. Finally, in stage 5, the therapist again conducts an emotional assessment of the patient and observes the patient's current emotional experience and feelings, which lasts about 1 minute.

The conventional treatment group received DBT group therapy 5 times a week, each session lasting 1 hour, and also received individual personalized therapy twice a week.