Music Therapy For People Research Articles

Music Therapy for People with CKD Undergoing Haemodialysis: Rapid Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Music Therapy for People with CKD Undergoing Haemodialysis: Rapid Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Theoretically grounded music therapy interventions for people with obsessive compulsive disorder

Over two percent of adults experience obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in their lifetime, and research on novel, effective treatments for this condition is needed. OCD is characterized by obsessions and compulsions spanning several domains including but not limited to cleanliness, evenness, and unacceptable or disturbing thoughts. Although there is a deficit of research on music therapy for people with OCD, preliminary research has indicated that music-based interventions and music therapy can help decrease anxiety, rigidity, obsessions, and compulsions in people with OCD. The purpose of this paper was to explore and develop music therapy interventions for people with OCD grounded in theories and concepts related to this diagnosis. The authors conducted a narrative literature review of interdisciplinary research on music therapy and OCD. In this manuscript, the authors reviewed three theories and concepts related to OCD and their applications to music therapy: evaluative conditioning, incompleteness and not just right experiences, and transdiagnostic theory. The authors used these theories to develop music therapy interventions to address areas of life that can be impacted by OCD identified in the Cognitive Assessment Instrument of Obsessions and Compulsions. Empirical research is needed to determine the efficacy, practicality, and generalizability of proposed music therapy interventions.

Music Therapy for People with Intellectual Disabilities: Stigma Intervention Strategies

The research presented in the article aims to justify the application of the method of music therapy in the long-term perspective of the social worker’s professionalization for people with intellectual disabilities. The object of the research is the impact of music therapy on persons with intellectual disabilities as a stigma research & intervention strategy in the context of the professionalization of social work. The aim of the article is to reveal the impact of music therapy on persons with intellectual disabilities in the context of the professionalization of social work. The object of the research was delved into from various angles in order to answer the research questions: How useful is music therapy for people with intellectual disabilities in the context of social work striving to overcome stigma and choosing music therapy as a strategy? How useful is the authorial research methodology developed by the researchers for the application of music therapy for the quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities in the context of social assistance and in overcoming systems barriers? To what extent are the research participants able to express their feelings and evaluate the process of music therapy, to influence the social worker’s activities related to music therapy? To what extent and how does such activity expand the boundaries of the social worker’s profession and in what direction does it change professional standards? Data analysis proves that music therapy helps people with intellectual disabilities and society to overcome stigma. Referring to the research findings it can be stated that the authorial methodology for the application of music therapy created by the researchers in order to achieve the quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities in the context of social assistance is effective and can be implemented in practice to overcome the systems barriers.

Music therapy for people with chronic pain: facilitators and barriers.

The aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions of music therapy among those living with chronic pain, and the possible facilitators and barriers to music therapy if offered as part of treatment. Following ethical approval, a convenience sample of 105 adult participants, who attended multisite pain clinics were included. Quantitative data were collected through an eighteen-item questionnaire using a Likert scale. Eighty-nine per cent of participants believe that music can improve mood, and 86% perceive health benefits from music. 81% agree that music can be a valuable self-help tool. However, 45% reported that they had not heard of music therapy. The majority (60%) would like to attend music therapy if it was offered as part of their pain management. For some, use of technology (9%), internet connection (15%), and private space (16%) were identified as barriers to accessing music therapy online. Music therapy has the potential to be a part of a person-centered care plan for those with chronic pain. Currently, music therapy is not an accessible treatment option. Healthcare providers should consider music therapy as a part of a chronic pain treatment plan, and future studies should be directed to evaluating its efficacy in chronic pain.

Music therapy for people with substance use disorders.

Substance use disorder (SUD) is the continued use of one or more psychoactive substances, including alcohol, despite negative effects on health, functioning, and social relations. Problematic drug use has increased by 10% globally since 2013, and harmful use of alcohol is associated with 5.3% of all deaths. Direct effects of music therapy (MT) on problematic substance use are not known, but it may be helpful in alleviating associated psychological symptoms and decreasing substance craving. To compare the effect of music therapy (MT) in addition to standard care versus standard care alone, or to standard care plus an active control intervention, on psychological symptoms, substance craving, motivation for treatment, and motivation to stay clean/sober. We searched the following databases (from inception to 1 February 2021): the Cochrane Drugs and Alcohol Specialised Register; CENTRAL; MEDLINE (PubMed); eight other databases, and two trials registries. We handsearched reference lists of all retrieved studies and relevant systematic reviews. We included randomised controlled trials comparing MT plus standard care to standard care alone, or MT plus standard care to active intervention plus standard care for people with SUD. We used standard Cochrane methodology. We included 21 trials involving 1984 people. We found moderate-certainty evidence of a medium effect favouring MT plus standard care over standard care alone for substance craving (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) -1.23 to -0.10; 3 studies, 254 participants), with significant subgroup differences indicating greater reduction in craving for MT intervention lasting one to three months; and small-to-medium effect favouring MT for motivation for treatment/change (SMD 0.41, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.61; 5 studies, 408 participants). We found no clear evidence of a beneficial effect on depression (SMD -0.33, 95% CI -0.72 to 0.07; 3 studies, 100 participants), or motivation to stay sober/clean (SMD 0.22, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.47; 3 studies, 269 participants), though effect sizes ranged from large favourable effect to no effect, and we are uncertain about the result. There was no evidence of beneficial effect on anxiety (mean difference (MD) -0.17, 95% CI -4.39 to 4.05; 1 study, 60 participants), though we are uncertain about the result. There was no meaningful effect for retention in treatment for participants receiving MT plus standard care as compared to standard care alone (risk ratio (RR) 0.99, 95% 0.93 to 1.05; 6 studies, 199 participants). There was a moderate effect on motivation for treatment/change when comparing MT plus standard care to another active intervention plus standard care (SMD 0.46, 95% CI -0.00 to 0.93; 5 studies, 411 participants), and certainty in the result was moderate. We found no clear evidence of an effect of MT on motivation to stay sober/clean when compared to active intervention, though effect sizes ranged from large favourable effect to no effect, and we are uncertain about the result (MD 0.34, 95% CI -0.11 to 0.78; 3 studies, 258 participants). There was no clear evidence of effect on substance craving (SMD -0.04, 95% CI -0.56 to 0.48; 3 studies, 232 participants), depression (MD -1.49, 95% CI -4.98 to 2.00; 1 study, 110 participants), or substance use (RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.29; 1 study, 140 participants) at one-month follow-up when comparing MT plus standard care to active intervention plus standard care. There were no data on adverse effects. Unclear risk of selection bias applied to most studies due to incomplete description of processes of randomisation and allocation concealment. All studies were at unclear risk of detection bias due to lack of blinding of outcome assessors for subjective outcomes (mostly self-report). We judged that bias arising from such lack of blinding would not differ between groups. Similarly, it is not possible to blind participants and providers to MT. We consider knowledge of receiving this type of therapy as part of the therapeutic effect itself, and thus all studies were at low risk of performance bias for subjective outcomes. We downgraded all outcomes one level for imprecision due to optimal information size not being met, and two levels for outcomes with very low sample size. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Results from this review suggest that MT as 'add on' treatment to standard care can lead to moderate reductions in substance craving and can increase motivation for treatment/change for people with SUDs receiving treatment in detoxification and short-term rehabilitation settings. Greater reduction in craving is associated with MT lasting longer than a single session. We have moderate-to-low confidence in our findings as the included studies were downgraded in certainty due to imprecision, and most included studies were conducted by the same researcher in the same detoxification unit, which considerably impacts the transferability of findings.

Providing music therapy for people with dementia in an acute mental health setting.

As global figures for dementia are set to rise significantly, there has been a shift towards using non-pharmacological interventions such as music therapy to enhance the quality of life for people with the condition. Research into music therapy interventions for this patient group in acute mental health inpatient settings, however, is limited. This article describes a service evaluation that explored whether group music therapy was effective for people with dementia in such settings. Open group music therapy sessions were hosted weekly in two acute wards and the researchers examined the social and behavioural outcomes of participants pre and post-intervention. The results indicated that music therapy significantly improved patient outcomes following participation. The outcome measure developed for this service evaluation was found to be a reliable tool for measuring the effectiveness of music therapy on patient outcomes.

Music therapy for people with substance use disorders

Objectives This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: Main objective To compare the eGect of music therapy (MT) in addition to standard care versus standard care alone, or to standard care plus an active control intervention, on psychological symptoms, substance craving, motivation for treatment, and motivation to stay clean/sober. Secondary objective To assess the impact of the number of MT sessions on study outcomes.

Shifting ‘stuckness’ in Parkinson’s disease: a music therapy case study

Prior research has demonstrated the positive effect of music therapy for people with Parkinson’s disease, much of which is concerned with functional motor-related goals and their quantitative measurement. However, few studies qualitatively address details of the music therapy process itself. This interpretivist case study sought to understand the therapeutic potential of an eight-week integrated music therapy intervention involving a single client with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The music therapy intervention, focusing on motor and non-motor clinical goals, comprised clinical improvisation, structured musical exercises, music-centred movement, and receptive music therapy techniques. Data collected included audio-visual footage of the intervention and transcripts from semi-structured interviews conducted with the client and the music therapist at the conclusion of the intervention. The article illustrates the ways in which the integrated music therapy intervention addressed the client’s experience of ‘stuckness’ and other challenges associated with the lived experience of PD. Themes from the thematic analysis revealed that the client experienced increased motivation, self-confidence, improved motor and gait control, mood regulation, better focus, the opportunity for emotional expression, and support within the therapeutic relationship.

Efecto de musicoterapia sobre la inteligencia y la interacción social en mujeres privadas de libertad con trastornos psiquiátricos

Existe poca evidencia científica de musicoterapia en población privada de su libertad; incluso no hay datos de alguna intervención en mujeres privadas de su libertad con trastornos psiquiátricos. El objetivo del presente estudio es analizar el efecto de la musicoterapia en el factor general de inteligencia y en la interacción social en mujeres sentenciadas con trastornos psiquiátricos. Se evaluó el factor general de inteligencia de 13 participantes antes y después de una intervención de musicoterapia. Se analizó la frecuencia de conductas prosociales y agresivas emitidas durante la intervención (34 sesiones). Se encontró que las participantes tuvieron una mejoría en el factor general de inteligencia antes ( = 18.15, D.E. = 12.09) y después ( = 21.15, D.E. = 12.43) de la intervención, pero los resultados no fueron estadísticamente significativas de acuerdo con la prueba t para muestras relacionadas (p = 0.167). Asimismo hubo un aumento en la frecuencia de conductas prosociales y un aumento en la frecuencia de conductas prosociales y una disminución de conductas agresivas durante las sesiones. En suma, la evidencia no es contundente en la mejora del factor general de inteligencia, pero facilita la interacción social al aumentar conductas prosociales y disminuir las agresivas. Se discuten las implicaciones del estudio para futuras investigaciones.

Therapeutic Application of The Kokas-Method in Music Therapy for People with Severe Disabilities

The method of Klára Kokas facilitates a deep musical understanding through the repeated listening to selected short high-quality classical masterpieces. The Kokas-method offers personality-oriented complex forms of creative, artistic expressions to explore music. Participants share their emotions by the freely improvised movements of their body, which Kokas defines as dances. Kokas started her sessions with young children, but later she extended her approach to many different groups. In order to adapt to adults with severe disabilities, the original structure of the Kokas Sessions were slightly modified and adapted to the abilities and needs of the participants. This approach, which based on the bodily responds for music with spontaneous movements, forming connections between music and bodily expression, opens a new avenue in providing meaningful and enjoyable pathways of communication strengthening the sense of belonging. In addition to fulfilling their frequently forgotten aesthetic needs, these sessions help individuals with severe disabilities to develop an emotional relationship to music, reduce challenging behavior, and encourage social interactions their self-awareness thought the bodily responses to the music. The optimal multisensory environment supports their understanding, promotes their physical and emotional well-being and keeps their motivation at a high level. The close analysis of the body movements responding to music may lead to deeper understanding of their cognitive processing.

What are the effects of music therapy in people with schizophrenia and schizophrenia-like disorders?

What are the effects of music therapy in people with schizophrenia and schizophrenia-like disorders?

Music therapy for people with schizophrenia and schizophrenia-like disorders.

Music therapy is a therapeutic approach that uses musical interaction as a means of communication and expression. Within the area of serious mental disorders, the aim of the therapy is to help people improve their emotional and relational competencies, and address issues they may not be able to using words alone. To review the effects of music therapy, or music therapy added to standard care, compared with placebo therapy, standard care or no treatment for people with serious mental disorders such as schizophrenia. We searched the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group's Trials Study-Based Register (December 2010 and 15 January, 2015) and supplemented this by contacting relevant study authors, handsearching of music therapy journals and manual searches of reference lists. All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared music therapy with standard care, placebo therapy, or no treatment. Review authors independently selected, quality assessed and data extracted studies. We excluded data where more than 30% of participants in any group were lost to follow-up. We synthesised non-skewed continuous endpoint data from valid scales using a standardised mean difference (SMD). We employed a fixed-effect model for all analyses. If statistical heterogeneity was found, we examined treatment dosage (i.e. number of therapy sessions) and treatment approach as possible sources of heterogeneity. Ten new studies have been added to this update; 18 studies with a total 1215 participants are now included. These examined effects of music therapy over the short, medium, and long-term, with treatment dosage varying from seven to 240 sessions. Overall, most information is from studies at low or unclear risk of biasA positive effect on global state was found for music therapy compared to standard care (medium term, 2 RCTs, n = 133, RR 0.38 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.24 to 0.59, low-quality evidence, number needed to treat for an additional beneficial outcome NNTB 2, 95% CI 2 to 4). No binary data were available for other outcomes. Medium-term continuous data identified good effects for music therapy on negative symptoms using the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (3 RCTs, n = 177, SMD - 0.55 95% CI -0.87 to -0.24, low-quality evidence). General mental state endpoint scores on the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale were better for music therapy (2 RCTs, n = 159, SMD -0.97 95% CI -1.31 to -0.63, low-quality evidence), as were average endpoint scores on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (1 RCT, n = 70, SMD -1.25 95% CI -1.77 to -0.73, moderate-quality evidence). Medium-term average endpoint scores using the Global Assessment of Functioning showed no effect for music therapy on general functioning (2 RCTs, n = 118, SMD -0.19 CI -0.56 to 0.18, moderate-quality evidence). However, positive effects for music therapy were found for both social functioning (Social Disability Screening Schedule scores; 2 RCTs, n = 160, SMD -0.72 95% CI -1.04 to -0.40), and quality of life (General Well-Being Schedule scores: 1 RCT, n = 72, SMD 1.82 95% CI 1.27 to 2.38, moderate-quality evidence). There were no data available for adverse effects, service use, engagement with services, or cost. Moderate- to low-quality evidence suggests that music therapy as an addition to standard care improves the global state, mental state (including negative and general symptoms), social functioning, and quality of life of people with schizophrenia or schizophrenia-like disorders. However, effects were inconsistent across studies and depended on the number of music therapy sessions as well as the quality of the music therapy provided. Further research should especially address the long-term effects of music therapy, dose-response relationships, as well as the relevance of outcome measures in relation to music therapy.

Music therapy for people with substance use disorders

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows: Main objective To assess the effects of music therapy, as a primary or a supportive intervention, compared to standard care, wait-list control or no treatment, for people with substance use disorders, to reduce substance use,the severity of substance dependence/abuse, psychological symptoms, and substance craving; to enhance motivation for change/treatment; and for retention in treatment. Secondary objective To assess the impact of the number of music therapy sessions on study outcomes.

Music therapy is beneficial for children with autism spectrum disorders, but more specific clinical guidance is a future need1

Geretsegger, M., Elefant, C., Mössler, K. A., & Gold, C. (2014). Music therapy for people with autism spectrum disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2014, Issue 6. Art. No.: CD004381. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004381.pub3.Sources of funding and declaration of interests: The authors of this review are clinically trained music therapists. Christian Gold and Karin Mössler’s institute received a grant to support this manuscript from The Research Council of Norway and an additional grant from the Danish Council for Independent Research/Humanities. The commentary authors report no conflicts of interest.

Music therapy for people with autism spectrum disorder.

The central impairments of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affect social interaction and communication. Music therapy uses musical experiences and the relationships that develop through them to enable communication and expression, thus attempting to address some of the core problems of people with ASD. The present version of this review on music therapy for ASD is an update of the original Cochrane review published in 2006. To assess the effects of music therapy for individuals with ASD. We searched the following databases in July 2013: CENTRAL, Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, PsycINFO, CINAHL, ERIC, ASSIA, Sociological Abstracts, and Dissertation Abstracts International. We also checked the reference lists of relevant studies and contacted investigators in person. All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or controlled clinical trials comparing music therapy or music therapy added to standard care to 'placebo' therapy, no treatment, or standard care for individuals with ASD were considered for inclusion. Two authors independently selected studies, assessed risk of bias, and extracted data from all included studies. We calculated the pooled standardised mean difference (SMD) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) for continuous outcomes to allow the combination data from different scales and to facilitate the interpretation of effect sizes. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic. In cases of statistical heterogeneity within outcome subgroups, we examined clients' age, intensity of therapy (number and frequency of therapy sessions), and treatment approach as possible sources of heterogeneity. We included 10 studies (165 participants) that examined the short- and medium-term effect of music therapy interventions (one week to seven months) for children with ASD. Music was superior to 'placebo' therapy or standard care with respect to the primary outcomes social interaction within the therapy context (SMD 1.06, 95% CI 0.02 to 2.10, 1 RCT, n = 10); generalised social interaction outside of the therapy context (SMD 0.71, 95% CI 0.18 to 1.25, 3 RCTs, n = 57, moderate quality evidence), non-verbal communicative skills within the therapy context (SMD 0.57, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.85, 3 RCTs, n = 30), verbal communicative skills (SMD 0.33, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.49, 6 RCTs, n = 139), initiating behaviour (SMD 0.73, 95% CI 0.36 to 1.11, 3 RCTs, n = 22, moderate quality evidence), and social-emotional reciprocity (SMD 2.28, 95% CI 0.73 to 3.83, 1 RCT, n = 10, low quality evidence). There was no statistically significant difference in non-verbal communicative skills outside of the therapy context (SMD 0.48, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.98, 3 RCTs, n = 57, low quality evidence). Music therapy was also superior to 'placebo' therapy or standard care in secondary outcome areas, including social adaptation (SMD 0.41, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.60, 4 RCTs, n = 26), joy (SMD 0.96, 95% CI 0.04 to 1.88, 1 RCT, n = 10), and quality of parent-child relationships (SMD 0.82, 95% CI 0.13 to 1.52, 2 RCTs, n = 33, moderate quality evidence). None of the included studies reported any adverse effects. The small sample sizes of the studies limit the methodological strength of these findings. The findings of this updated review provide evidence that music therapy may help children with ASD to improve their skills in primary outcome areas that constitute the core of the condition including social interaction, verbal communication, initiating behaviour, and social-emotional reciprocity. Music therapy may also help to enhance non-verbal communication skills within the therapy context. Furthermore, in secondary outcome areas, music therapy may contribute to increasing social adaptation skills in children with ASD and to promoting the quality of parent-child relationships. In contrast to the studies included in an earlier version of this review published in 2006, the new studies included in this update enhanced the applicability of findings to clinical practice. More research using larger samples and generalised outcome measures is needed to corroborate these findings and to examine whether the effects of music therapy are enduring. When applying the results of this review to practice, it is important to note that the application of music therapy requires specialised academic and clinical training.

Meeting the Complex Needs of Individuals With Dementia Through Music Therapy

Since its founding in 1995, the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function (IMNF) has been committed to the study of music therapy for people with neurologic impairments, especially for those with Alzheimer disease and other dementias. Our more than 30 years of research has reaped some unique findings. This article will describe the research projects and their implications in a narrative review with the focus on method, music intervention, and outcomes. It is hoped that the work of researchers and clinical practice communities will benefit from the synthesis of our findings and that the investigations and practices for our aging population will continue to expand.

Music therapy in dementia: a narrative synthesis systematic review

Recent reviews on music therapy for people with dementia have been limited to attempting to evaluate whether it is effective, but there is a need for a critical assessment of the literature to provide insight into the possible mechanisms of actions of music therapy. This systematic review uses a narrative synthesis format to determine evidence for effectiveness and provide insight into a model of action. The narrative synthesis framework consists of four elements: (i) theory development; (ii) preliminary synthesis of findings; (iii) exploration of relationships between studies; and (iv) assessment of the robustness of the synthesis. Electronic and hand searches identified 263 potentially relevant studies. Eighteen studies met the full inclusion criteria. Three distinctive strands of investigations emerged: eight studies explored behavioural and psychological aspects, five studies investigated hormonal and physiological changes, and five studies focused on social and relational aspects of music therapy. The musical interventions in the studies were diverse, but singing featured as an important medium for change. Evidence for short-term improvement in mood and reduction in behavioural disturbance was consistent, but there were no high-quality longitudinal studies that demonstrated long-term benefits of music therapy. Future music therapy studies need to define a theoretical model, include better-focused outcome measures, and discuss how the findings may improve the well-being of people with dementia.

Special section: music therapy for people with autistic spectrum disorder

Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) has been one of the first and most important areas of application of music therapy. Pioneers in music therapy (e.g., Alvin, 2000) discovered early on that people wi...

Treatment of Dementia Through Cultural Arts

Editor's Note. This article was published originally in the Journal of Long Term Home Health Care, Volume 11, Number 3, 1992. We are running it again now upon refl ection on a passage in Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain, by Oliver Sacks, Alfred A. Knopf, 2007. Sacks writes: the response to music is preserved, even when dementia is very advanced. . . . The aim of music therapy in people with dementia . . . seeks to address the emotions, cognitive powers, thoughts, and memories, the surviving self of the patient, to stimulate these and bring them to the fore. It aims to enrich and enlarge existence, to give freedom, stability, organization, and focus. (pp. 336-337) On any given day at the Sunshine Terrace Adult Day Center in Logan, Utah, you might hear a quartet beautifully harmonizing, a fi ddler playing toe-tappin' music, the recitation of a poem that evokes tears from the listeners, a fi ne Irish tenor singing Wild Irish Rose, a company of actors presenting a melodrama, a choir of bells, or the sound of rich violin tones playing a lovely ballad. The performances would be enjoyable to any audience, but the performers are even more impressive. Most have Alzheimer's disease and are well over 80 years of age. Many have been appreciated only for their life work in the distant past, but now tears are streaming, people are clapping, laughing, and enjoying accomplishments of today. This generation of elderly comes from a past of doing and giving. Yet now the ravages of disease and aging-and society's lack of expectations for them-have forced them to become spectators, watching the world go by. This inert life often results in a loss of self-esteem, depression, and a decrease in mental, physical, and social functioning. In the name of love, professional and family caregivers act for elderly persons when, instead, they might still be able to help themselves. BACKGROUND My conversion to the idea that the abilities of impaired elderly persons can be grossly underestimated came when I visited my mother after the doctor had diagnosed probable Alzheimer's and predicted she would die within six months. Dad explained that she spent all day on the couch sleeping, rose only with assistance, and spoke little. I sat beside her and fi nally got her to open her eyes and focus on me briefl y, and to say yes or no to a couple of questions. This once-strong mother looked hopelessly frail, and I felt helpless. I thought of the many things I had learned from her, especially the songs we sang together. I began to sing one of our old favorites. To my amazement, Mother turned toward me, opened her eyes wide, and with raised eyebrows began to sing the old familiar harmony. We sang two more songs, and she sat up. Soon she was talking, laughing, making sense, and sharing real feelings. Music was the spark that could produce fire out of the ashes of her life. THE ENVIRONMENT A year later, while serving as a social worker in the nursing home operated by the Sunshine Terrace Foundation, I was given a chance to develop a program designed to offer others the same opportunities that had promoted an increase in functional capacity and a sense of belonging and joy for my mother. I was asked to design and implement an adult day care program, to be located in a new addition on the lower level of the nursing home. The board of directors supported the idea and advanced the necessary funds to decorate and purchase needed supplies. A priority was to develop an environment that felt and looked like home. The setting was important in encouraging feelings of self-worth that could help clients rise above the limitations of disease, to uncover or discover talents and skills buried beneath pain, depression, memory loss, and discouragement. Every effort was made to develop a comfort zone by tapping into long-term memories of fl owered wallpaper, pretty chairs and sofas, birds in cages, and a huge fi sh tank. …

The use of music therapy in neuro-rehabilitation of people with acquired brain injury

The purpose of this paper is to provide a practical overview for nurses of the evidence for and uses of music therapy for people following acquired brain injury, and to highlight its relevance to the nurse's role in providing care for this patient population. As a specialist clinical intervention, music therapy is able to effect changes in physical, cognitive, psychosocial and communicative functioning for people with acquired neurological disorders, indicating its role in multiprofessional teams offering maintenance or rehabilitation programmes. Although the growing body of evidence is yet to be assessed, a number of small studies offer promising results. An overview of the evidence for music therapy with people with acquired neurological conditions will be given, with a particular focus on methods of intervention which have been researched to address physical, communicative, cognitive and emotional functioning. The possibilities for collaborative practice between nursing and music therapy are highlighted.