Efficacy of music therapy for depressive symptoms in college students: a meta-analysis and systematic review

Music therapy is an effective adjunctive intervention for managing depressive symptoms in college students. However, due to significant heterogeneity, future research needs standardized treatment frameworks. Multi-center RCTs with blinded assessment and longitudinal designs should be prioritized to clarify dose-response relationships and neurophysiological mechanisms, facilitating the integration of music therapy into evidence-based mental health strategies for this population.