Participation In Music Therapy Research Articles

Application Value of Music Therapy in Improving the Emotional State and Quality of Life of Hospitalized Patients with Breast Cancer: Retrospective Study.

This study aimed to apply music therapy as a clinical treatment for patients with breast cancer (BC) experiencing mild or moderate depression during hospitalization and observe any improvements in their depression and quality of life. A total of 102 patients who had mild-to-moderate depression, were diagnosed with BC, and were admitted to our hospital from October 2022 to October 2023 were selected as the subjects of a retrospective analysis. According to their participation in short-term music therapy, they were divided into a control group (routine nursing treatment n = 45) and an observation group (routine nursing treatment + music therapy n = 57). Self-rating depression (SDS) scale and functional assessment of cancer therapy-breast (FACT-B) scale Chinese version 4.0 scores and patient satisfaction after treatment were compared between the two groups. After treatment, the SDS scale scores and FACT-B scores of the observation group were significantly better than those of the control group (P < 0.001). The patient satisfaction in the observation group was higher than in the control group (P < 0.05). Music therapy is a highly safe method to improve the depression and quality of life of patients with BC. It also provides a simple and convenient nondrug clinical treatment with broad application prospects.

Building relationships in music therapy: A case study with a boy with Down syndrome based on transcendental phenomenological analysis

This practice-based article came from experience that occurred during a sixthsemester internship at a primary school in Denmark with special classes for children with learning disabilities. The client of this case is a nine-year-old boy with Down syndrome. This qualitative case study investigates the impact of relationships in music therapy and how they can influence the development of the therapy. The study explores how the relationship between a music therapist and a client with Down syndrome affects the therapeutic outcome and the client’s development and participation in music therapy. This study came from a qualitative case study with material derived from the four music therapy sessions using sequences of video recordings. Based on a phenomenological approach, the material had been analysed through microanalysis using thematic coding, horizontal analysis, and qualitative analysis. The results indicate that relationships are the key to development in music therapy. The client shows more initiative and becomes more independent throughout the sessions. Finally, this study indicates that the client’s communicative skills and the development of the music therapy sessions show improvement as the relationship between the music therapist and the client improves.

Abstract PO3-11-03: A Randomized Controlled Trial to Assess the Benefit of Art &amp; Music Therapy on Quality of Life in Patient with Breast Cancer

Abstract Introduction: Quality of life (QoL) in oncology captures the well-being of a patient and is considered a significant outcome criterion. Breast cancer (BC) is the most diagnosed cancer in women, however, standardizing integrative therapies to alleviate the burden of cancer and improve QoL is still an unmet need. Art and music therapy might mitigate psychological and emotional distress. We sought to evaluate their efficacy compared to control among patients with BC during or after active therapy. Methods: Seventy-six treated patients with Stages I-III BC were randomly assigned to art, music therapy, or routine oncology care standard of care arm (SOC) for 3 months and received two sessions per month by a licensed therapist (including in-person/virtual and group sessions). The primary outcome was an improvement in QoL measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Breast (FACT-B) questionnaire and secondary outcomes included: cognitive function measured by Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Cognition (FACT-Cog), response to a 4-component Cleveland Clinic Visual Analog Scale (CCVAS), indicators of anxiety and depression assessed by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 item (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 item (PHQ-9). All questionnaires were assessed at baseline, 30, 90, and 180 days. Statistical considerations included stratified randomization, and a mean difference in 15 points between either of the interventions. SOC arm was considered relevant at the 3-month mark. Mean improvement within groups was performed using paired t-tests whereas independent t-tests were used to evaluate mean improvement between interventions (1 or 2 vs. SOC arm). All analyses were performed using SPSS version 26 (IBM, Armonk, NY). Results: Forty-five participants completed the study to date and were included in the interim analysis. Median age was 58 (57-59), white race (51.1%), patients on active treatment (45%), art therapy group (n=16), music therapy (n=15) and standard of care (n=14). Significant improvement was noted in the art therapy arm at 3 months in FACT-B physical well-being (p=0.04), functional well-being (p=0.008) domains as well as GAD-7 (p=0.003), PHQ-9 (p=0.04) and FACT-Cog section “impact on quality of life” (p=0.03). At 6 months, the art therapy arm demonstrated lower scores in the CCVAS questionnaire total score, emotional distress (p=0.01) and anxiety (p=0.004) scales. Music therapy participants reported a significant improvement only in GAD-7 index(p=0.04) at 3 and 6 months compared to SOC. No significant difference was found between art and music therapy arms. Conclusion: Art therapy patients exhibited significant improvement in overall QoL (including anxiety, depression, improvement in cognitive function) and 4-scale CCVAS (emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and pain). Music therapy improved anxiety scores (GAD-7). Art and music therapy should be considered in the care of patients to manage cancer associated distress and improve their quality of life. Table 1. Comparison of test changes from 3 months to baseline within groups Table 2. Comparison of test changes from 6 months to baseline within groups Citation Format: Maria Herran, Mohamed Mohanna, Saad Sabbagh, Barbara Dominguez, Kaylee Sarna, Rachel Upton-Rice, Angie Burdine, Zeina Nahleh. A Randomized Controlled Trial to Assess the Benefit of Art &amp; Music Therapy on Quality of Life in Patient with Breast Cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO3-11-03.

Introducing the Music Therapy Visual Schedule Approach (MT-ViSA): Contexts and considerations for visual design and production

Visual schedules have been used with different population groups within music therapy practice, mostly with people on the autism spectrum, however there is a paucity of focused literature on the use of these tools in the field. Drawing on a range of diverse information sources (e.g. literature, research data, practice experience), the Music Therapy Visual Schedule Approach (MT-ViSA) was developed. The MT-ViSA is a co-design approach to using visual schedules within music therapy practice. This article introduces the MT-ViSA and poses detailed questions under the four components of assessing, planning, delivering and evaluating; and visual design and production considerations for music therapists utilising a visual schedule within their work. This article suggests that a visual schedule may be of benefit to music therapy participants with different needs across the lifespan. It is anticipated that the outputs from this research will contribute to the evidence-base and practice approach of utilising visual schedules within music therapy service delivery.

Participation in group music therapy: A preliminary study of the experiences and perceptions of adolescents who stammer

Music therapy and music-based interventions are increasingly used in the treatment of speech, language, and communication needs, and music therapy has been extensively applied to adolescent groups. To date, however, there has been no published work examining music therapy for adolescents who stammer. The aim of the current study was to explore adolescents’ experiences and perceptions of a group music therapy intervention. Four adolescents who stammer participated in semi-structured interviews examining their experience of group music therapy intervention. The music therapy group intervention consisted of five therapeutic sessions conducted at a summer camp for children and adolescents who stammer. Analysis of in-depth, semi-structured interviews revealed four main themes and several subthemes. Recurrent themes revealed a variety of psychosocial benefits related to the experience of group music therapy, such as developing new friendships and facilitating peer support, increasing self-confidence and self-expression. There was also an emphasis on fun and enjoyment. This paper highlights a number of key benefits of music therapy for adolescents who stammer. These preliminary results highlight the potential of music therapy for adolescents who stammer, and the role of addressing psychosocial aspects of stammering within this creative arts intervention.

Musical pathways to the peer community: A collective case study of refugee children’s use of music therapy

ABSTRACT Introduction The quality of refugee children’s social life in the host country is essential to their health and development. Both practice and research indicate the relevance of music therapy in this respect, but our understanding of how music therapy can contribute to refugee children’s social wellbeing is still limited. This article explores how participation in music therapy in a public primary school can nurture refugee children’s readiness to collaborate with peers. Method The study is situated within a hermeneutic research tradition and is designed as a single-site, collective case study consisting of four cases. Empirical material consists of logs and audio-recordings from music therapy sessions. Results Results are presented as four case narratives that describe processes related to collaboration with peers. Discussion Based on abductive analysis, this article discusses the practice of music therapy in terms of the processes of regulating, negotiating, and building a sharable repertoire. The article suggests that music therapy nurtures the child’s capacity to regulate emotions and engage in social participation: an ongoing negotiation of interpersonal relationships is combined with the cultivation of a shared repertoire that creates bridges to other practices and larger social configurations.

Implementing music therapy in a Norwegian neonatal intensive care unit.

Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) music therapy is an emerging discipline. There is a growing evidence base supporting its use, with an emphasis on the immediate and short-term positive effects on infants' physiological responses and parents' experiences. To explore the implementation of music therapy aligned with standards of neonatal care and as an integral part of the care routinely provided in a Norwegian NICU. Parents of infants hospitalised in the NICU were offered music therapy sessions based on the First Sounds: Rhythm, Breath and Lullaby model. Before discharge from the NICU, parents were asked to complete an electronic survey about their experiences of music therapy. Nurses' feedback and observations were also elicited and collected. A total of 16 parents completed the survey. Overall, their experiences of music therapy were positive, and they noted several benefits for themselves and their infant. In addition, nurses observed that parents' interactions with their infant increased after participation in music therapy. However, nurses reported it was challenging to invite parents to participate in music therapy at a time of uncertainty, anxiety and grief. Nurses also found it challenging to disseminate information about music therapy to parents from other cultures. Furthermore, it was identified that most parents learned about the music therapy sessions from the music therapist, rather than from NICU medical or nursing staff, which indicates that music therapy was not fully integrated among the unit's multidisciplinary team. Music therapy can reinforce family-centred care and promote parent-infant bonding, but additional efforts are required to integrate it into the care routinely provided by the NICU multidisciplinary team.

Global Council on Brain Health: Recommendations to promote brain health through music enrichment

AbstractBackgroundThe Global Council on Brain Health (GCBH) is an independent collaborative of scientists, clinicians, scholars, and policy experts convened by AARP to provide evidence‐based advice on what people and professionals can do to maintain and improve brain health. The Council translates scientific research into actionable recommendations for the public that will help drive behavior change in individuals across communities and cultures. In 2020, the Council will focus on the topic of music specifically as it relates to brain health. Music offers natural and accessible strategies for older adults who wish to exercise their full creative potential or cope with issues related to dysfunction or isolation.MethodExperts from around the world were brought together to analyze the body of evidence on the impact of music and brain health, build consensus, and issue recommendations. AARP’s original research captures data from surveys highlighting adult engagement with music as it relates to their brain health.ResultThis presentation will feature consensus on whether and how music impacts cognitive health. Recommendations and practical tips based on the latest research advancements will also be showcased to help the public understand the potential that music holds for supporting and enriching brain health. Data from surveys fielded by AARP research, developed in consultation with the GCBH, will be featured.ConclusionThis presentation highlights findings from the Council’s examination of the impact of music on brain health. Music and dance/movement interventions can positively impact health outcomes, including cognition, quality of life, psychological impact, mental well‐being, etc. Participation in music therapy and experiences can regulate stress and arousal, thus affecting overall health. The scientific and policy dimensions of music and brain health on aging adults will also be addressed.

Effects of an Active Music Therapy Program on Functional Fitness in Community Older Adults.

Health problems common among older adults living in community settings include a lack of functional fitness. Many studies have confirmed that exercises and static music therapy improve physical and psychological health problems. Exercise programs involving music have a higher frequency of attendance and motivation than other exercise programs. Active participation in active group music therapy results in better therapeutic effects. This study was designed to test the effectiveness of a 3-month active group music therapy program on the functional fitness of community older adults in Taiwan. A quasi-experimental design with repeated measures was applied. A convenience cluster sample of older adults was drawn from seven senior-citizen activity centers in southern Taiwan. All participants were assigned to either an experimental group (n = 77) or a comparison group (n = 69) based on the requests of each senior center. The experimental group participated in the active group music therapy program for 3 months (twice per week and 60 minutes per session). The comparison group maintained their daily activities. Each participant's level of functional fitness was measured at baseline and at 1 and 3 months after the start of the intervention. Seventy-one participants in the experimental group and 62 participants in the comparison group completed the 3-month study. At the 1-month measurement, the experimental group had greater improvements in cardiopulmonary fitness, upper body flexibility, lower body flexibility, upper limb muscle power, lower limb muscle endurance, and balance than the comparison group (all ps < .05). These significant improvements persisted through the 3-month intervention (all ps < .05). Active group music therapy is an effective complementary and alternative therapy for improving six items of functional fitness in community-dwelling older adults. Healthcare professionals may incorporate this active group music therapy program as a health promotion activity for older adults living in community settings.

Association Between Music Therapy Techniques and Patient-Reported Moderate to Severe Fatigue in Hospitalized Adults With Cancer.

Cancer-related fatigue is a prevalent, debilitating symptom that contributes to increased health care utilization among hospitalized patients. Music therapy is a nonpharmacological intervention that uses active (eg, singing, selecting songs) and passive (eg, listening) techniques. Preliminary evidence from small trials suggests a potential benefit for cancer-related fatigue in the inpatient setting; however, it remains unclear which techniques are most effective. A cross-sectional mixed-methods study was performed to compare cancer-related fatigue before and after active or passive music therapy. Cancer-related fatigue was captured via the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale fatigue item. Patients were asked to provide postsession free-text comments. A total of 436 patients (mean [standard deviation] age, 62.2 [13.4] years; n = 284 [65.1%] women; n = 294 [67.4%] white; active music therapy n = 360 [82.6%]; passive music therapy n = 76 [17.4%]) with a range of primary malignancies participated. Active music therapy was associated with a 0.88-point greater reduction in cancer-related fatigue (95% CI, 0.26 to 1.51; P = .006; Cohen's D, 0.52) at postsession as compared with passive music therapy when restricting the analysis to patients who rated their baseline cancer-related fatigue as moderate to severe (ie, ≥ 4; n = 236 [54.1%]). Free-text responses confirmed higher frequencies of words describing positive affect/emotion among active music therapy participants. In a large sample of inpatient adults with diverse cancer disease types, active music therapy was associated with greater reduction in cancer-related fatigue and increased reporting of positive affect/emotions compared with passive music therapy. Additional research is warranted to determine the specific efficacy and underlying mechanisms of music therapy on cancer-related fatigue.

Reducing Anxiety through Music Therapy at an Outpatient Eating Disorder Recovery Service

ABSTRACTThe authors of this study aimed to reduce post-meal related anxiety for people with eating disorders through participation in group music therapy in an outpatient day program. A purposively-inclusive pilot study design was adopted which utilized the self-report Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS) to measure anxiety pre and post a single session. A total of 13 female participants attended a one-hour music therapy group session following a lunchtime social eating challenge and contributed to 50 occasions of data collection. A paired two-tailed t-test indicated a highly statistically significant difference (p = < 0.0001) between the pre and post session scores, suggesting that music therapy significantly decreased anxiety.

Behind the scenes

Welcome to this new issue of Approaches. Although published with some delay, we hope that this issue will stimulate dialogue and offer new perspectives to practice, theory and research. Some articles were included in Approaches’ First View section one or two years ago but their content remains relevant to contemporary developments in the music therapy field. In her article, Saville focuses on outcome measurement with specific reference to the ‘East Kent Outcomes System’ (EKOS). The application of EKOS, as a means of identifying and tracking outcomes of participation in music therapy, is illustrated through a case example with an adult with intellectual disability. Saville’s work adds to the expanding interest in outcome measurement in music therapy (Spiro, Tsiris &amp; Cripps 2018a, 2018b). Similarly, Pasiali, Schoolmeesters and Engen present a detailed analysis of measures of resilience. They outline various ways music therapists may look into assessing resilience and use the results as a way to inform their clinical practice. Silverman and Baker turn the spotlight on the notion of flow. They explore its meanings and its potential as a possible mechanism of change that can explain research outcomes in music therapy. On the other hand, Neudofer presents a metatheoretical perspective of music therapy through the lens of Baier’s anthropological theory of spirituality. Through patient narratives emerging from an action research study, she explores how patients with cancer identify their unique stories and find a sense of identity and meaning. Based on an ethnographic study in two homes for the elderly, the final article offers an experiential description of tango during the interwar period in Greece. Koufou explores people’s experiences of tango from a socio-cultural point of view, weaves oral history snippets together, and presents the potential impact of tango on the current sense of identity and wellbeing of the participants. In addition to these five articles, in this issue you will find an interview with Barbara Wheeler, a prominent figure and author of multiple music therapy textbooks. Interviewed by Daphne Rickson, Wheeler reflects on music therapy research, using the publication of the third edition of Music Therapy Research as a springboard. Some of the historical perspectives offered in Wheeler’s interview resonate with those in Suzanne Hanser’s report. Through the account of the establishment and development of music therapy at Berklee College of Music in the USA over the past 20 years, Hanser outlines some broader issues pertaining to the contemporary training of music therapists (see also: Coombes &amp; Etmektsoglou 2017). This journal issue also includes seven book reviews, nine conference reports, as well as a tribute to Mary Priestley, who died on 11th June 2017. Since the last journal issue in 2017, the team of Approaches has been busy improving the journal’s infrastructure and streamlining its reviewing and publication procedures. This work that happens behind the scenes is essential for the sustainability of the journal as we are gradually entering the second decade of its life. Among other developments, a five-year service period has been introduced for all Advisory Editorial Board members. As such, some longstanding members stepped down and some new members joined the team. With this opportunity we would like to warmly thank Catherine Carr, Theo Dimitriadis, Ioanna Etmektsoglou, Panagiotis Kabilis, Panagiotis Kanellopoulos and Evangelia Papanikolaou for their service over the past years. At the same time, we have welcomed Bolette Daniels Beck, Kjetil Hjørnevik and Mike Silverman. The voluntary work of all team members has played, and continues to play, a decisive role in ensuring the quality of the publications appearing in Approaches. With the ultimate goal of advancing music therapy knowledge and practice, our editorial team has collaborated with over 400 contributing authors and 100 reviewers to date. A full list of their names has been made available online: https://approaches.gr/editorial-board In closing, we warmly thank the sponsors of Approaches and we are pleased to announce two new sponsors: ‘echo’ Music Psychotherapy Center, and Music Therapy New Zealand. The support of all sponsors provides the essential means to continue our work and maintain Approaches as an open-access journal. References Coombes, E., &amp; Etmektsoglou, I. (2017). Glimpses into the challenges and opportunities of a new training programme: The MA Music Therapy programme at the University of South Wales. Approaches: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Music Therapy, 9(1), 120-127. Spiro, N., Tsiris, G., &amp; Cripps, C. (2018a). A systematic review of outcome measures in music therapy. Music Therapy Perspectives, 36(1), 67-78. Spiro, N., Tsiris, G., &amp; Cripps, C. (2018b). “Sounds good, but… what is it?” An introduction to outcome measurement from a music therapy perspective. Approaches: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Music Therapy, First View (Advance online publication), 1-19. Suggested citation:Tsiris, G., &amp; Pasiali, V. (2018). Behind the scenes. Approaches: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Music Therapy, 10(1), 5-6.

Effects of Listening to Live Singing in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Randomized Controlled Crossover Study.

Participation in music therapy is associated with improved psychological and physical indices among chronically ill patients. Listening to music during hemodialysis treatments positively affects patients' hemodynamics, laboratory values, quality of life, and physical symptoms. The effect of live singing during hemodialysis treatments, however, has not previously been studied. A total of 24 participants with a diagnosis of end-stage kidney disease participated in the study. The vocalist was a musically trained dialysis nurse. Twelve of the patients listened to 15 min of live singing during 6 consecutive hemodialysis sessions, while the other 12 underwent standard hemodialysis. After a washout period of 2 days, the two groups were reversed. Listening to live music was associated with improvements in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, better quality of sleep, fewer cramps, and reduced anxiety/depression, pain, and itching ( p < .05, all values). Listening to live music during hemodialysis is an effective and potentially low-cost therapy for the dialysis care team to employ during hemodialysis treatments.

The Importance of Physical Activity in the Protection of the Mental Health of Students of Faculty of Sport Sciences

The purpose of the present research is determining the psychological symptoms observed among the students of the Faculty of Sports Sciences and to define the effects of physical activity on the mental health of the students. The sample of the research consists of 222 volunteer students (n=75 female and n=147 male) who study at Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Sports Sciences in 2017-2018 Academic Year. International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to define the physical activity levels of students and Symptom Distress Check List (SCL-90-R) was used to define the psychological symptoms of the students. SPSS 22.0 package program was used for the statistical analysis of the data collected for the present research. According to the findings of the statistical analyses, the most frequent psychological symptoms observed among students respectively were obsessive-compulsive symptoms (70.3%, n=156), paranoid thoughts (63.1%, n=140), interpersonal sensitivity (51.8%, n=115) and anger hostility (51.4%, n=114). It was also found that there was a significant negative correlation between the physical activity levels of the students and general symptom averages and the psychological symptoms such as obsessive-compulsive symptoms, depression, anxiety, anger hostility at 0.01 level (p&gt;0.05). According to the findings of the present research, symptoms, such as obsessive-compulsive symptoms, paranoid thoughts, interpersonal sensitivity and anger hostility are observed, and general symptom average was high among students of Faculty of Sports Sciences and psychological symptoms such as obsessive-compulsive symptoms, depression, anxiety, anger hostility, phobic reaction decreased as the physical activity level of the students increased. Psychological symptoms other than psychotics were mostly among female students. Participation in meditation, yoga, music therapy, exercise and physical activity programs as well as applied lessons in the curriculum can contribute to the prevention of mental problems among students with these symptoms.

Implementation of Music Therapy at a Norwegian Children’s Hospital: A Focused Ethnographic Study

The profession of music therapy is experiencing a period of expansion in Norway, with the establishment of new positions occurring in a variety of health contexts. One area that is poised for continued growth is music therapy within medical contexts, and in paediatric hospitals, in particular. There are various ways in which new music therapy positions are developed within paediatric hospitals, and studying these implementation processes can provide valuable insight. In this study, we use a focused ethnographic approach to explore how different members of the interdisciplinary team experience the implementation of music therapy in a children’s hospital, including the present and the former music therapist. We consider how the music therapist has positioned herself within the established hierarchy, what leadership and other healthcare personnel have done for/against this new profession, and which elements have helped or hindered the process of implementation. Data collection and analysis consisted of reflecting upon and analysing: 1) the first author’s participation in music therapy praxis on a paediatric medical unit, 2) fieldnotes from field observations within the children's hospital, and 3) semi-structured interviews with interdisciplinary staff. Main findings suggest that given support from leadership and a consultative/advisory workgroup, it was rather straightforward to start up a music therapy practice within this particular children's hospital, but it was more complicated to formally and informally fully integrate music therapy in the interdisciplinary team.

Reducing Anxiety through Music Therapy at a Community Residential Alcohol and Drug withdrawal Unit

Anxiety is a main symptom of withdrawal from substances and can be detrimental to treatment. There is little evidence which supports the use of a particular therapeutic treatment in reducing the anxiety associated with withdrawal. This study aimed to reduce anxiety associated with withdrawal through participation in group music therapy for adults admitted to a community residential alcohol and drug withdrawal unit. A quasi-experimental design was adopted, using the self-report Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS) to measure anxiety pre and post a single session. A total of 35 participants attended a one hour music therapy group session and contributed to data collection over ten sessions. A paired two-tailed t-test indicated a highly statistically significant difference (p = <0.0001) between the pre and post session scores, suggesting that music therapy significantly decreased anxiety for participants. The results of this study provide support for the future funding of music therapy programs in inpatient withdrawal settings and contributes to the limited evidence base supporting the use of music therapy for people with substance use disorders.

Community Building Through Inclusive Music-Making

The objective of this project was to expand the boundaries of regular music therapy sessions at a non-profit organization to include performances and workshops with community musicians. The goals and practices used for persons with physical disabilities prepared participants to benefit from inclusive music-making with local community musicians who had no previous music therapy experience, but whose performing styles were closely aligned with the musical preferences of our participants. The four collaborative workshops, which were held over six months, involved music therapy participants, accredited music therapists, local musicians, and volunteers engaging in music making together where teaching and learning was shared amongst all involved. The workshops were also an important mechanism for raising greater awareness of the needs and abilities of the music therapy participants.

Perceptions of family members of palliative medicine and hospice patients who experienced music therapy.

Evidence shows that music therapy aids in symptom management and improves quality of life for palliative medicine and hospice patients. The majority of previous studies have addressed patient needs, while only a few addressed the needs of family members. The primary purpose of this study was to understand family members' perceptions of music therapy experienced by a relative in palliative medicine or hospice. Patient self-reported scales and music therapist assessment of change were also investigated. Patients scored their symptoms (pain, anxiety, depression, shortness of breath, and mood) before and after music therapy sessions. One family member present during the session assessed perceived effect on the patient's pain, anxiety, depression, shortness of breath, stress level, restlessness, comfort level, mood, and quality of life. The effect on family member's stress level, quality of life, and mood and helpfulness of the music therapy session for the patient and self were studied. Recommendations about future patient participation in music therapy and qualitative comments were also solicited. Fifty family member/patient dyads participated in the study. Family member perceptions were positive, with 82% of responders indicating improvement for self and patient in stress, mood, and quality of life; 80% rating the session as extremely helpful; and 100% of 49 recommending further music therapy sessions for the patient. Patients reported statistically significant improvement in pain, depression, distress, and mood scores. Family members of patients in palliative medicine and hospice settings reported an immediate positive impact of music therapy on the patient and on themselves. More research needs to be conducted to better understand the benefits of music therapy for family members.

Identity and self-esteem in the context of music and music therapy: a review

Participation in music therapy offers opportunities for the participants to engage in identity work – to define, develop, or reflect on their understanding of themselves, and to cultivate new expressions of self-identity. The music therapy involves breaking away from the reality and engaging in intense interactions, which in turn facilitate relationships between participants. Patients tend to be more open to new kinds of experiences and explore new ways of perceiving themselves and others. Their self-understanding develops and leads to self-acceptance and personal growth. Although questions concerning the relationship between music therapy and human identity have been asked since antiquity, many issues have still not been resolved. As of today, there are no publications that systematically review the current state of knowledge.&lt;br /&gt; This article aims to review the available empirical evidence in order to identify the relationship between music therapy processes, identity, and specific individual identity variables, such as self-esteem. Also, it attempts to discover how self-regulatory behavior relates to both general music instruction and interventions designed to enhance self-esteem and identity.&lt;br /&gt; We searched PubMed and PsycInfo up to 13.09.2016. Screening, eligibility, and data extraction were done by one reviewer. Out of 31 relevant records, 20 were assessed for eligibility, and 14 were included. There was marked variation across included studies regarding type of MT approach used, type of participants, settings, outcomes and measurement tools. A qualitative analysis showed that expression of emotion and a sense of agency (which is considered valuable for both the client and those around them) is a way to provide one’s damaged Self with healthful aspects of personality, thus improving one’s self-esteem. &lt;br /&gt; This review provides insight into the effects of music therapy processes, specifically self-knowledge (music identity) and self-esteem determined by the psychological processes entailed in some kinds of music activities.

Music Therapists’ Conceptualization of Clients’ Experience of Healing: Grounded Theory Analysis

This study analyzed the meaning, distinctive features, and process of therapists’ perception of their clients’ experience related to healing in music therapy. Twenty Korean music therapists who work with a variety of clients were recruited to participate through purposive sampling. Corbin and Strauss’s (2008) grounded theory qualitative analysis method was used. Ten categories and nineteen subcategories were obtained. The central phenomenon was active participation in music therapy, which was influenced by client’s readiness. Clients’ experiences lead to healing through awareness of inner self, expression of emotions, and solving problems. These changes were related to the therapists’ interventions, professionalism and qualifications, and their use of music. It was concluded that the clients experienced four types of healing in their music therapy sessions: physical, emotional, social, and transformative.