Abstract
[Purpose] The objective of this study was to investigate whether vibroacoustic therapy (VAT) could improve the psychological symptoms of 15 elderly nursing home (NH) residents with symptoms of depression. [Methods] Fifteen subjects received VAT for 30 minutes per day for 10 days. Depression was evaluated using the Dementia Mood Assessment Scale (DMAS). Tympanic temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and SpO2 were measured as physiological indexes of relaxation. In addition, sleep-wake rhythms of the 15 subjects were evaluated using actigraphy. [Results] Based on DMAS scores, mitigation of depression was observed in NH residents after receiving VAT. Moreover, significant decreases in tympanic temperature and pulse were observed after treatment. Total sleeping hours per day showed a significant decrease when mean sleeping hours in the first week were compared with the mean sleeping hours in the second week. [Conclusion] VAT provided relaxation effects for elderly NH residents, and improved depressive symptoms.
