A Randomized Trial of Music Therapy for Behavioural and Emotional Problems

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Journal of Advanced Nursing, 68(10) (2012), pp. 2349-2358.
Music in mind, a randomized controlled trial of music therapy for young people with behavioural and emotional problems: study protocol.
Porter S., Holmes V., Mclaughlin K., Lynn f., Cardwell C., Braiden H.-J., Doran J. & Rogan S.

Abstract:

The group of individuals who conducted this study (Group A) was interested to see if improvisational music therapy could significantly improve and impact the state of clients with depression. Group A had findings that stated that children who received music therapy spoke much more vocabulary and demonstrated much more imitation in their social interaction with other people. This is a very useful discovery because many clients who are depressed become less vocally expressive, physically less active, and social interaction declines. During this study Group A had 200 participants at the age range between 8-16 who were children and adolescents with depression. Those in the experimental group who experienced the music therapy sessions had 30-minute sessions once a week for 12 weeks straight. In these music therapy sessions The Alvin Model of free improvisation was used. The music therapist never gave a rigid structure or definite ground rules for each client when it came to the music making experience. The client was encouraged to explore in which ever way they desired to with the music. The options given to exploring and creating the music was with their own voice, an instrument (was not specified), or even by physical movement. Clients also had the choice to choose if they wanted to improvise by himself/ herself or together with the therapist. The therapist was also able to give support and direction if the client desired it. This model also has a receptive aspect and sometimes client’s would listen to the therapist improvise. As much as freedom is implied in the music therapy sessions, the therapist would build a foundation and scaffold a therapeutic session in which would aim to meet certain objectives for a client. The therapist would also continuously provide support and encourage the client towards what needs to be assessed during the sessions.
For this study, one of the main objectives Group A wanted to observe was if music therapy would improve and increase the communication and interaction skills of the participants with depression. At the end of the study, these skills were measured using the Social Skills Improvement System Rating Scales. The results of the rating scale showed that the effectiveness of music therapy on the experimental group was not convincing. Those in Group A whom had facilitated the study stated in their conclusion that there was no empirical evidence that stood out from the music therapy sessions that clients were making improvements from the music therapy experience. The group closed their conclusion by stating that although there is potential in music therapy for clients with depression, currently the evidence base is weak because the quantitative numbers for improvement were low. Therefore, Group A concluded that the professionals in the music therapy field should consider the measure of outcomes and economics before considering music therapy to be an intervention for clients with depression.

Keywords: Music therapy, Depression, Mental Health, The Alvin Model, Free Improvisation,