An Experimental Study to Assess the Effect of Selected Raga of Music on Aggression in Children Admitted in Child Psychiatry Center NIMHANS, Bangalore

Title: An experimental study to assess the effect of selected raga of music on aggression in children admitted in Child Psychiatry Center NIMHANS, Bangalore.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of the selected raga of music on aggression in children admitted in Child Psychiatry Center, NIMHANS.

Methodology: A study design with experimental group (Treatment group) and control group (Treatment as Usual group) was adopted. After the pilot study, 40 subjects who met the inclusion criteria were recruited for the study consecutively. Aggression level was measured with Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS), Visual Analogue Scale by parents and children and functioning level was assessed through Children Global Assessment Scale. Music intervention based on Raga Shankarabharanam was administered for 20 minutes twice daily for two weeks. Level of aggression measured in the four time points, prior to the intervention, 7^th day, 14^th day and 21^st day. RMANOVA was used to find out the effect the of music intervention across four time points.

Results: Findings revealed that significant reduction in aggression scores were measured with MOAS from prior to the intervention, 7^th day, 14^th day and 21^st day noted in both the groups. (f-Statistic =31.35, p<0.001) No significant difference in reduction on aggression scores between Treatment Group and Treatment as Usual Group, were noted (f-statistic=1.19 p=0.282). In visual analogue scale by parents and visual analogue scale by subject's scoring also showed significant reduction in aggression (f-statistics =19.83, p-value<0.001, fstatistics=25.69, p<0.001) but no significant reduction in aggression score between Treatment Group and Treatment as Usual Group (f-statistics=0.017 and p value 0.898, f-statistics=2.14, and p=0.155). So present study findings pointing that Raga Shankarabharanam has very minimal effect on aggression among children with mental illness. Conclusion: This study has proven that music therapy is practical, feasible and helpful in maintaining therapeutic environment among children with mental illness. Indian music therapy is unique and cultural and open great scope for further prove and studies. More intensive and improvised music therapy can be conducted among children with mental illness.