Indian Journal of Positive Psychology © 2022 Indian Association of Health, Research and Welfare

2022, 13(3), 212-215 ISSN-p-2229-4937,e-2321-368X

A Pilot Study of Therapeutic Effects of Indian Classical Raga

Indian classical music is emerging as a therapeutic agent in mental health and well-being. This pilot study aims to
see the therapeutic effect of Indian classical raga on depression, anxiety and stress among adults. For the study, 20
participants were randomly selected then participants were divided into two groups; the intervention group and the
control group. The intervention group received raga Ahir Bhairav with standard care and the control group received
only standard care. Standard care includes pharmacology and psychiatrists counselling. To measure depression,
anxiety and stress DASS-42 was used at baseline and after treatment. Results stated that there is a significant
decrease in depression, anxiety and stress following raga therapy. Thus the raga is an inexpensive, non-invasive,
safe adjunct to reduce stress, anxiety and depression.

Keywords: Raga Ahir Bhairav, Indian classical music, depression, anxiety, stress

Adults have lots of responsibility, this is the age when a person gets mental state in which an individual experiences the feeling of
married and has to adjust in married life, get a job, and perform well tension, worried thoughts, and some physiological changes like
to be financially independent. During this period, they observe some increased blood pressure and heart rate. Listening to Indian music
physical decline, loss of their parents, etc. so due to all these personal can reduce anxiety levels (Nagarajan, Srinivas, & Rao, 2015).
and professional reasons adults suffer from depression, anxiety, and
stress. Music Therapy
World Health Organization (2015) defined depression as a mood Music is considered a medicine in Ayurveda. In the Vedic text, the
disorder characterized by feelings of sadness, loss of interest and cosmos is called "Nadabrabha” which is a combination of two words
pleasure, feeling of guilt, lack of self-worth, disturbed sleep and Nada is a Sanskrit word that means sound and Brahama means, God,
appetite, and feelings of tiredness and concentration. therefore, Nadabrahama means the sound is God. The music reflects
Depression is a long-lasting or recurrent mood disorder impacting the evaluation of life from the primal sound "Aum”. Nalpat (2003)
a person's daily life. Severe depression leads a person to suicide stated that music isn't energy but the energy itself. Indian
(WHO, 2015). Depression is a major health concern nowadays civilizations were using music as medicine.
World Health Organization (2013) assumed that depression will be
the leading cause of disease burden worldwide by 2030. In India
Effects of Music Therapy
depression prevalence is not too far from western countries. Major Music therapy has the potential to cure and minimize the symptoms
depressive disorder is higher in adults, unemployed with poor of physical as well as psychological diseases. Indian music balanced
education, and with low economic and social status (Grover, Dutt, & the Chakras and energy in the body to bring out the healing in the
Avasthi, 2010). body. Music stimulates the secretion of the hormone by the pituitary
Stress is the result of some external physical or mental factors that gland, which affects the nervous system and the flow of blood
affect an individual's physical and psychological well-being (Peters, 2000). It could change negative personality traits like worry,
(Atkinson, Miller, Kay, Blinkkhorn, 1991). A study was conducted bias, and anger (Chatterjee, 1999). Music can stimulate and soothe
on the Swedish population to see the effect of stress on mental health the mind (Copland, 1960).
and it was found that high stress is associated with depression, Fight Depression, Anxiety and Stress: When a person suffers from
whereas moderate to low stress is associated with anxiety (Bergdahl depression, the serotonin level decreases, and music helps in
& Bergdahl, 2002). increasing serotonin levels and reduced depression (Godman,
American Psychiatric Association (2013) defined anxiety as a 2011). Music is also effective in reducing anxiety it calms and
soothes the mind (Kemper & Danhauer, 2005). Witte et al. (2020)
suggest that listening to music is effective in reducing stress as it can
Author Note reduce the heart rate and cortisol level, and release endorphins which
Sushila Pareek, Professor, Department of Psychology, University improve the sense of well-being.
of Rajasthan, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Divya Shekhawat, PhD Scholar, Department of Psychology The Indian Tradition of Music Therapy
University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, Rajasthan Music has recognized that Indian Classical raga is not only for
We have no known conflict of interest to disclose entertainment but the sound and vibration created by raga could
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to improve physical and psychological health. Raga Chiktsa is an
Divya Shekhawat, PhD Scholar, Department of Psychology ancient manuscript that dealt with the effects of the raga. Raga
University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, Rajasthan chiktsa means healing through the raga. Raga contains a sequence of
E-mail: divyashekhawatkd@gmail.com notes that crates appropriate mood on emotion in a particular
 Indian Journal of Positive Psychology 2022, 13(3), 212-215 213

combination. By changing your mood raga can make you more Variables
peaceful, calm and relaxed. A raga has the potential to create the
Independent Variable: intervention of Raga Ahir Bhairavi
emotion of happiness, peace, compassion, courage and love (Karuna
et al., 2013). Dependent Variable: depression, anxiety and stress
It has been found that positive emotions create positive and Research Design
healthy physiological and emotional changes (Tugade et al., 2004).
The pilot study is a randomized controlled trial with a pre-post
Raga works as a medicine (Baghchee, 2003). Different combination
intervention design.
of notes has different effects on certain ailments (Sairam, 2004).
Raga could be used as a complementary method for changing the Measure
emotional state and controlling the brain waves (Sairam, 2004). The DASS is a 42 items self- administrated questionnaire developed
Objectives of the Study by Lovibond and Lovibond in 1995. The scale was designed to
measure the levels of three negative emotional states- Depression,
● To find out the level of depression, anxiety and stress among adults
Anxiety and Stress. Higher scores on each subtest indicate
before and after exposure to raga in the experimental group.
increasing severity of depression, anxiety and stress. Completing
● To find out pre-test-post-test levels of depression, anxiety and this test takes 10 to 20 minutes.
stress among adults in the control group.
● To identify the effectiveness of Indian Classical Raga on Procedure
depression, anxiety and stress among adults. The permission was taken from the director of the clinic and
informed consent was received from the participants of the study, 20
Hypotheses of the Study
subjects satisfying the inclusion and exclusion were randomly
● There will be no significant difference in the level of depression, selected for the study.
anxiety and stress between the pre-test post-test scores of the Adequate information regarding the aim, benefits and risk factors
control group. of the study were given to the subjects before data collection. The
● There will be a significant difference in the level of depression, intervention group listened to Indian classical music (Raga Ahir
anxiety and stress between the pre-test post-test scores of the Bhairav) between 6 to 9 am, raga was given to the subjects for 15
experimental group. days every day, they each session was for 15 minutes. The
● There will be a significant difference in the level of depression, intervention tools included mobile phones or laptops with
anxiety and stress between the post-test score of the control group headphones. Raga Ahir Bhairav was recorded in instrumental form
and the experimental group after obtaining 2 music experts' opinions. The control group
received only the standard care without music therapy. The standard
Method care includes pharmacotherapy with psychiatric counselling. The
level of depression, anxiety and stress were measured using 42 items
Participants
Depression Anxiety and Stress scale (DASS) at baseline on day 1
A total of 20 participants were selected. The participants were and after the intervention of 15 days.
divided into two groups- The intervention group (n=10) and the
control group (n= 10). For sampling, a simple random method was Statistical Analysis
used. Participants were selected from the OPD of Dr Amar Shinde, In the statistical analysis, mean, standard deviation and t-test were
Hadapsar Gaadital, Pune. Participants were adults with a primary used to describe the data.
diagnosis of anxiety disorder and depression by a psychiatrist.
Patients with substance abuse, psychosis, and other psychiatric Results
illness were excluded from the study. The study involved a non-
invasive procedure with no financial burden on the subjects.
Demographic Details

Table 1
Shows the Frequency, Percentage Distribution and p-value of Samples According to the Demographic Profile
Demographic variable Category Intervention group (n=10) No. (%) Control group (n=10) No. (%) p
Age in years 20-30 2(20%) 4(40%) 0.321a
31-40 5(50%) 5(50%)
40-45 3(30%) 1(10%)
Gender Female 3(30%) 5 (50%)
Male 7(70%) 5 (50%) 1.000b
Residence Urban 10 (100%) 9(90%)
1.000b Rural 0(0%) 1(10%)
Education Up to 10th 2 (20%) 3(30%) 1.000b
Above 10th 8(80%) 7 (70%)
Note. a-t-test b-Chi-square test
214 PAREEK AND SHEKHAWAT/ A PILOT STUDY OF THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF INDIAN

Table 1 is showing no significant difference in demographic Thus it can infer that the participants of the two groups were
characteristics-age, gender, residence, and education level among demographically matched and comparable.
participants of two groups intervention group and control group.

Table 2
Showing pre and Post-test Scores on Depression, Anxiety and Stress of the Experimental
Group
Experimental group pre-test & post-test Mean N Std. deviation t
Anxiety (pre-test) 16.60 10 1.57 4.48 **
(post-test) 12.9 10 2.07
Stress (pre-test) 23.9 10 2.69 5.71 **
(post-test) 18.4 10 1.42
Depression (pre-test) 24.3 10 2.66 6.85 **
(post-test) 17.5 10 1.64
Note. Significant at the level .01

Table 2 is depicting the mean, standard deviation and t-value of the level .01. Here the hypothesis has been proved.
pre-test score and post-test score of the control group on anxiety, The scores of depression, anxiety and stress were reduced after 15
stress and depression. These values are statistically significant at the days in the control group but statistically not significant.

Table 3
Showing Pre-post-test Scores of Depression, Anxiety and Stress of the Control Group
control group pre-test & post-test Mean N Std. deviation t
Anxiety (pre-test ) 18.4 10 2.71 1.23
(post-test) 16.78 10 2.86
Stress (pre-test) 28.2 10 3.42 0.45
(post-test) 27.5 10 3.50
Depression (pre-test) 25.1 10 2.42 1.57
(post-test) 23.4 10 2.42
Note. Not significant at 0.05 level

Table 4
Shows the Pre-test Scores of Depression, Anxiety and Stress of the Experimental Group and
Control Group
Experimental group & control group pre-test Mean N Std. deviation t
Anxiety (exp. Group) 16.7 10 2.86 1.36
(control group) 18.4 10 2.71
Stress (exp. Group) 27.5 10 3.5 0.45
(control group) 28.2 10 3.42
Depression (exp. Group) 24.3 10 2.66 0.79
(Control group) 25.5 10 2.42
Note. Not significant at 0.05 level

Table 5
Shows the Post-test Scores of Depression, Anxiety and Stress of the Experimental Group and
Control Group
Experimental group &control group post-test Mean N Std. deviation t
Anxiety (exp. Group) 12.9 10 2.07 2.08**
(control group) 15.5 10 3.34
Stress (exp. Group) 18.4 10 1.42 7.60**
(control group ) 27.5 10 3.5
Depression (exp. Group) 24.5 10 1.64 6.38**
(control group) 23.4 10 2.41
Note. Significant at the level .01
 Indian Journal of Positive Psychology 2022, 13(3), 212-215 215

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