Compositional music therapy: A systematic review of clinical trials

Abstract

Purpose: Compositional music therapy involves the creation of original music by the therapist, the patient/client, or both together. The purpose of this systematic review is to examine techniques of compositional music therapy and the evidence for its therapeutic uses. Methods: PRISMA guidelines were followed in performing this systematic review. Studies published in the last 25 years from January 1998 to December 2023 were identified through the use of the PubMed, PsycInfo, and Google Scholar databases, using the following keywords: Musi*, AND Therap*, AND Compos*. Two authors independently conducted a focused analysis and reached a final consensus on nine studies that met the specific selection criteria and passed the study quality checks. Results: Review yielded four key compositional music therapy techniques: songwriting, lyric analysis, instrumental composition, and therapeutic rap and singing. Eight out of the nine studies showed positive results for compositional music therapy. These techniques were associated with reduction in anxiety levels and an enhancement of positive affective states, the development of coping strategies, and improvement of emotional regulation. Conclusion: This review shows a body of positive evidence for compositional music therapy, highlighting its potential to foster psychological and physiological well-being across various demographics, especially in terms of coping strategies and emotion regulation. Future directions include the use of digital music technology for composition in music therapy.