Rhythms of Resilience: Neuropsychological Effects of Laughter Percussion on Anxiety and Depression in a Community-Based Pilot Study

Abstract

Introduction: Anxiety and depression are among the most prevalent mental health disorders globally. Conventional treatments such as pharmacotherapy and cognitive-behavioral theraphy are mostly used. However, many individuals either show limited response or prefer alternative, non-pharmacological treatments.

Objective: This research explores the effectiveness of laughter percussion, a novel therapeutic modality that blends rhythmic drumming with structured laughter as an interention of reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Methods: A mixed-methods pilot study was conducted in a community setting haing 60 adult individuals with self reported or clinically diagnosed anxiety and depression. Individuals were randomly assigned to intervention group (Laughter percussion) or no-treatment (control group). The experimental group engaged in weekly Laughter Percussion sessions for eight weeks, while the control group received no intervention. Standardized assessments included the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scales, along with post-session interviews of 20 individuals were conducted to capture qualitative insights.

Results: The results show GAD-7 groups mean before intervention was 10.42 and after interventiaon was 4.50 which showed a reduction of 5.92 by 56.80% (P = 0.00). Whereas, PHQ-9 groups mean before intervention was 13.73 which showed reduces to 7.82 showing a reduction of 5.91 by 43.04% (P = 0.00). Participants also reported enhanced emotional expressiveness, increased group cohesion, and improved stress management.

Conclusion: Laughter percussion appreas to enhance neuroplasticity and emotional resilience, offering a promising complementory approach to traditional therapeutic mental health therapies.