In what ways can music improve mental health incomes? What specific mental health disorders are most affected by music?
According to Daniel J. Levitin, the author of I Heard There Was a Secret Chord, music can improve mental health outcomes in two significant ways. It can also improve disorders such as bipolar disorder, depression, PTSD, and trauma.
Keep reading for insight into the benefits of music therapy for mental health disorders.
Music for Mental Health Disorders
While the therapeutic benefits of music may vary for those with physical conditions, research suggests it can be particularly effective in addressing mental health challenges. According to award-winning neuroscientist and musician Daniel J. Levitin, music therapy for mental health is beneficial in two ways: First, listening to and playing music produces brain chemicals that improve your mood. Second, music offers a means to express emotions and connect with others when someone doesn’t want to talk or doesn’t have the words to describe their experience.
Depression and Bipolar Disorder
Depression and bipolar disorder both result from disrupted dopamine activity in the brain, which contributes to persistent low mood, diminished interest in activities, and poor emotional regulation. The key difference between these conditions is that depression typically involves ongoing sadness, while people with bipolar disorder alternate between depressive lows and manic or hypomanic highs, reflecting distinct patterns in how brain chemistry imbalances manifest.
(Shortform note: Dopamine plays a crucial role in mood regulation, motivation, and reward processing in the brain, which explains why disrupted dopamine activity contributes to depression and bipolar disorder. Impaired dopamine signaling affects the prefrontal cortex and limbic system, causing persistent low mood, emotional instability, and anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure). In bipolar disorder, dopamine imbalance triggers mood swings—high levels may cause mania while low levels lead to depression. Dopamine dysfunction also impairs cognitive functions like attention and decision-making and weakens stress responses.)
Many people with these conditions instinctively turn to music for relief, and research has validated this approach. According to Levitin, when patients listen to music they enjoy, their brains release dopamine in the nucleus accumbens (the brain’s pleasure center). This release occurs both during emotional peaks in the music and in anticipation of those moments. Since this provides a healthy, nonaddictive way to stimulate the dopamine system, music therapy can be an effective tool for managing symptoms, helping to naturally counter the disrupted dopamine activity that underlies these conditions.
(Shortform note: Although music can help people cope with depression and bipolar disorder, sad music may be less effective. Researchers have found that while many find comfort in sad songs because it validates what they’re feeling, those prone to rumination often experience worsened symptoms after listening to sad music because it keeps them stuck in negative thought cycles rather than helping them process their emotions. Brain scans confirm this difference—sad music activates reward centers in some people but intensifies negative emotional responses in others. This underscores the importance of being mindful about music choices, particularly for young people who might not recognize how certain songs affect their emotional state.)
PTSD and Trauma
PTSD and trauma disorders are characterized by a dysfunctional fear response system, where the body remains in a heightened state of “fight-or-flight” arousal and can be easily triggered into overwhelming stress reactions. As a result, ordinary stimuli, like loud noises or crowds, can provoke debilitating panic attacks, flashbacks, or emotional shutdown. To avoid these experiences, survivors may start to restrict their lives, limiting opportunities for work, relationships, and new experiences.
(Shortform note: People with trauma disorders like PTSD and Complex PTSD struggle with regulating emotions beyond just fear. When triggered, people can also experience intense anger, guilt, and shame that overwhelm their usual coping mechanisms, making it difficult to return to a calm state. They experience heightened reactivity to everyday situations and persistent difficulty managing feelings. This is more than a physiological response—trauma experiences can fundamentally shift how survivors interact with others and view the world.)
Levitin argues music therapy has proven particularly effective for these conditions because it can directly activate the body’s natural relaxation pathways, helping to calm an overactive stress response system. Clinical trials demonstrate that regular music therapy leads to measurable improvements in patients’ ability to regulate their emotional states. Participants show reduced stress levels, enhanced emotional stability, and improved daily functioning, with better overall well-being and capacity to manage day-to-day responsibilities.
(Shortform note: Songwriting with Soldiers is a program that demonstrates the powerful impact of music therapy for treating mental health conditions, particularly for veterans dealing with trauma and PTSD. The program pairs veterans with professional songwriters to transform their military experiences into songs. A Harvard Mass General study found a 33% reduction in PTSD symptoms, 25% reduction in depression, and significant increases in hope (77%) and creative engagement (83%) among participants.)
