American psychologist Rollo May said “Depression is the inability to construct a future”. It also doesn’t leave you with much of a past either. There have been significant advances in pharmacology aimed at treating depression, but now there may be another, non medical fix. A newly published study from Mexico reports repeated listening to certain classical works — including one by Mozart — helps ease the debilitating symptoms of clinical depression. In a recent study participants from a Oaxaca clinic were divided into two groups. Half the group took part in a 30-minute weekly counseling session with a psychologist; the other half listened to a 50-minute program of classical music each day. Their recorded concert featured two baroque works (Bach’s Italian Concerto and a Concerto Grosso by his contemporary, Archangelo Corelli) and Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos. Each week, participants reported their levels of depression-related symptoms using a standard scale. By the fourth session there was more positive change from the music therapy group that the counseled group. Read the whole article here.

hs