Researchers offered 20 one-on-one music therapy sessions to 33 patients suffering from the mental illness in addition to antidepressants, psychotherapy and counselling. After three months, those who received music therapy had significantly fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety.

The findings now need to be repeated with a larger sample of people and further research is needed to assess its cost effectiveness.

Professor Jaakko Erkkila, who led the study at the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland, says:

"We found that people often expressed their inner pressure and feelings by drumming or with the tones produced with a mallet instrument. Some people described their playing experience as cathartic."

Fellow researcher professor Christian Gold, also Editor-in-Chief of the Nordic Journal of Music Therapy, adds:

"Music therapy has specific qualities that allow people to express themselves and interact in a non-verbal way – even in situations when they cannot find the words to describe their inner experiences."

Psychiatrist Dr Mike Crawford, of Imperial College London, who reviewed the study, says:

"Music-making is social, pleasurable and meaningful. It has been argued that music-making engages people in ways that words may simply not be able to."