“The Opposite of Treatment”: A qualitative study of how patients diagnosed with psychosis experience music therapy

Hans Petter Solli,Randi Rolvsjord

doi:10.1080/08098131.2014.890639

Hans Petter Solli, Randi Rolvsjord

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1080/08098131.2014.890639

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Abstract

Previous research studies regarding music therapy and severe mental illness have mainly adopted quantitative methodologies in order to study the effectiveness of music therapy interventions. Studies that have explored service users’ experiences of participation in music therapy are small in number, and almost nonexistent in the field of psychosis. This study aimed to explore how mental health patients with a diagnosis of psychosis experienced participation in music therapy, in general, and more specifically how they experienced music therapy in relation to their current mental state and life situation. Nine inpatients with psychosis were interviewed using a semi-structured interview focusing on the participants’ experiences of music therapy in individual sessions, groups, and performances. Through the use of interpretative phenomenological analysis, four super-ordinate themes central to the participants’ experiences were found: freedom, contact, well-being, and symptom reduction. Based on the findings, mental health recovery, positive mental health, and agency are proposed as constituting a better framework for music therapy in mental healthcare than a primary focus on symptom remission and functional improvement.

Highlights

Psychosis is characterized by crucial changes in thoughts and perceptions as well as in a person’s emotional and social life
The primary purpose of the study was to gain first-hand accounts from people diagnosed with psychosis who were participating in music therapy
We argue that the notion of agency is a better point of departure for understanding why music therapy is found to be helpful for persons with severe mental illness

Summary

Introduction

Psychosis is characterized by crucial changes in thoughts and perceptions as well as in a person’s emotional and social life. Despite promising developments in medical treatment and psychosocial rehabilitation, there are growing calls for other, more effective approaches to help and support people with psychosis (Bentall, 2009; Fledderus, Bohlmeijer, Smit, & Westerhof, 2010; Herrman, Saxena, & Moodie, 2005; Slade, 2009). Outcome studies have documented positive effects of music therapy on symptoms and functioning for people diagnosed with schizophrenia and the wider condition of psychosis (Gold, Solli, Krüger, & Lie, 2009; Gold et al, 2013; Mössler, Chen, Heldal, & Gold, 2011). As a consequence of this emerging evidence base, music therapy is being recommended in national treatment guidelines for people with psychosis in UK and Norway (National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, 2010; The Norwegian Directorate of Health, 2013)

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