Research Project “Music Therapy for Depression”


Research project “Music Therapy for Depression” with Sabine Rittner, Christine Gäbel and others at the Institute for Medical Psychology at the University Hospital Heidelberg

Sabine Rittner is currently therapeutic director of the study “Music Therapy for Depression” (MUSED). It is a randomized controlled study to evaluate psychobiological effects of music therapy on depression in adult women. People with depression have a disturbed regulation of emotions and associated deficits in the regulation of psychobiological stress systems. Music therapy is a complementary therapeutic approach that contributes to the effective treatment of depression. Initial studies show that music therapy can positively influence depressive symptoms and their psychobiological mechanisms. A total of 66 adult women between the ages of 18 and 65 with mild, moderate to severe depression are included in the study. They receive a 10-week music therapy group treatment, which can be completed in addition to an existing standard therapy (outpatient psychotherapy and/or medication). You can find more information on the study, which is currently in the implementation phase, here.

Further information on the study can be found on the research platform: “researchgate

Should you have any further questions or be interested in participating, please do not hesitate to contact us:

Christine Gäbel, M.A.
Institute of Medical Psychology, University Hospital Heidelberg
Christine.Gaebel@med.uni-heidelberg.de