Journal of Music Therapy最新文献

In the recent multinational cluster-randomized Music Interventions for Dementia and Depression in ELderly care trial, group music therapy (GMT) was one of two music-based interventions for care home residents with dementia and depressive symptoms received for 6 months. In this study, we assessed the quality of intervention delivery and treatment fidelity of video-recorded GMT sessions. A randomly selected sample of video recordings (n = 53) from 19 music therapists across five countries were analyzed by two independent raters using a fidelity checklist. The average session duration was 40 min with four residents attending. Essential session components Introduction with welcome song (90.6%), Song singing and reminiscence (96.2%) and Closing with a farewell song (85.4%) were commonly carried out, in contrast to optional components Improvisation on instruments (69.8%) and Movement to music (37.7%). The inter-rater agreement showed an assessment of checklist items related to Song singing and reminiscence was challenging. Twelve categories of rater comments (n = 606) were identified, including: clarifying coding choices, therapist-related observations, expressing doubt in coding, and order of components. Six categories were identified for 82 significant moments described by the raters, including observations related to residents' (re)actions, interaction, music activity, music therapist, care staff, and disruption of session. Agreement between raters showed that it was feasible to provide GMT using a pre-established session structure, where music therapists could tailor session content to current needs of individual residents. Assessment of intervention delivery and treatment fidelity based on video-recorded sessions is challenging yet valuable for increasing understanding of efficacy and implementation of music-based interventions. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03496675.

This study examines the uniquely situated characteristics of music therapists' musicianship. Undertaken through the lens of post intentional phenomenology, music therapy sessions and interviews with 11 music therapists were integrated into musicianship profiles that included identification of core musicianship constructs and music skills. These core constructs and skills were subsequently organized across profiles into 4 categories: (a) qualities and values of the music therapist, (b) session preparation, (c) session intention, and (d) musical engagement. Music therapy musicianship is a complex, multidimensional phenomenon that exists in the shared musical space between therapist and client(s)-it is a way of being in the world musically with another person(s). Study findings have significant implications for music therapy education and training and invite careful re-evaluation of musicianship competencies identified by the American Music Therapy Association and National Association of Schools of Music.

Music therapy can address various clinical objectives related to recovery in acute mental health inpatient settings. However, there is a gap in the literature investigating if group-based songwriting can impact mental health confidence/self-efficacy. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a single-session recovery-oriented group-based songwriting protocol on adults hospitalized in an acute care mental health unit as measured by mental health confidence. Over 48 sessions, 128 participants were cluster-randomized to songwriting or control conditions. The songwriting condition addressed motivations for and pathways to recovery. To avoid testing fatigue in this single-session study, songwriting participants received the intervention and then completed the Mental Health Confidence Scale (MHCS) while control participants completed the MHCS and then received a music intervention that did not address recovery. Results indicated significant between-group differences in optimism, coping, and advocacy subscales as well as total mental health confidence. In all measures, the songwriting group had more favorable mean scores than the control group. Effect sizes were in the small and medium ranges. Despite the temporal limitations associated with single-session treatment germane to acute mental health settings, results were statistically significant and clinically relevant. Implications for clinical practice, limitations, and suggestions for future research are provided.

Despite the growing number of people living at home with dementia, there is a lack of home-based music intervention, especially in Chinese-speaking societies. This study implemented a music care program and assessed its impact on the relationship between caregivers and people living with dementia in Taiwan. We recruited family caregivers of people with dementia for a non-randomized controlled trial. The experimental group participated in a 12-week Music Care Training Program for Dementia Caregivers and practiced music activities at home. Meanwhile, the control group provided standard care to their care recipients. The Mutuality, Positive Aspects of Care, and Rewards of Caregiving scales and the WHO-5 Well-being Index were implemented before and after the intervention. We used the scales' pretest scores as covariates and performed an analysis of covariance to compare the differences between the two groups. The experimental group consisted of 14 caregivers aged 43-76 years (with only one male), whereas the control group consisted of 11 caregivers aged 50-75 years (all female). After the intervention, ANCOVA results indicated the experimental group showed significantly higher scores than the control group on the Positive Aspects of Care scale and minor positive changes in the WHO-5 Well-being Index. In conclusion, caregivers' scores on the Positive Aspects of Care scale improved following the Music Care Program, which might suggest the program's potential effect on fostering positive experiences and improving relationships between caregivers and care recipients.

Therapist attributes are known to contribute to positive therapeutic outcomes and are important to effective training and clinical practice. Although well researched in psychology and play therapy, few studies have directly explored music therapist attributes. To explore and understand these descriptions, we conducted a secondary analysis of parent interview data from a multisite trial investigating a music therapist-delivered intervention for young children with cancer and their parents. We used qualitative descriptive analysis to identify music therapists' attributes as described by parents who participated in the intervention. Our inductive analysis of 28 interviews revealed 135 descriptors of music therapists. We discovered that these descriptions grouped naturally using essential therapist attributes of supportive, attuned, and nonjudgemental, as identified in the extant literature. This analysis highlights music therapists' attributes perceived as central to their work with parents and young children in cancer settings.

Acquired brain injury (ABI) can result in a multitude of impairments to physical, cognitive, communicative, psychological, and psychosocial functioning. Music interventions are emerging as a valuable form of intervention in the rehabilitation of children with ABI, stimulating brain functions involved in movement, cognition, speech, emotions, and sensory perceptions. To date, the literature detailing the impact of music and music therapy interventions on functional outcomes in children with ABI has not been reviewed systematically. To address this, Whittemore and Knafl's five-stage integrative review framework was employed, which includes (a) problem identification, (b) literature search, (c) data evaluation, (d) data analysis and synthesis, and (e) presentation of the findings. A total of 388 articles were retrieved, and 8 studies met the inclusion criteria. Analysis and synthesis resulted in 3 overarching themes: outcomes of using music therapy in pediatric ABI, music therapy as a motivator in pediatric ABI rehabilitation, and collaboration. The review highlights the pivotal role of music as a motivational catalyst that promotes adherence to rehabilitative intervention. Nevertheless, it underscores a significant gap in empirical research within the field, emphasizing the necessity for larger, more rigorous studies.

The cost-effectiveness of an intervention is an important factor in health care decisions about which health care services should be publicly funded and/or approved as an eligible intervention for private insurance coverage. Music therapy as a health profession lacks substantial research on the cost-effectiveness of its services and there is no overview of existing data. We therefore conducted a scoping review. To contextualize and focus the scope, we describe different types of economic evaluations (EEs) and characterize four types of music interventions. Following the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews, we systematically searched six databases (EBSCOHost, ProQuest, Web of Science, APA PsycNet, Scopus, and Prospero) in January 2023, and, after screening the initial 1,041 hits, 26 references were included in the review. The results consist of 19 completed and 7 planned EEs published between 1999 and 2022, mainly in the United States. The results show a heterogeneous picture with regard to: (a) the health economic methods used, ranging from cost analyses to cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs), and one social return on investment analysis; (b) the service users involved, ranging from neonatal intensive care patients to persons with dementia and care staff; (c) the outcomes and cost components examined in the respective studies; and (d) the type of study and the conclusions drawn from the results. Accordingly, this scoping review provides an up-to-date overview of health economic studies and identifies research gaps in the field of music interventions for health-related goals and aims to contribute to the discussion on this topic.

The Journal of Music Therapy and Music Therapy Perspectives are journals sponsored by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). In recent years, the journal leadership teams have been focused on issues of inclusion, access, equity, and social justice, as they relate to the journals. This focus aligned with AMTA's reorganization process that began in the early 2020s, where principles of social justice were centered as part of the association's statements related to organizational change. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to gather data related to readers' use and perceptions of the journals, including perceptions regarding the integration of diversity and social justice. Board-certified music therapists (N = 409) met inclusion criteria and completed an online survey; these data were used to inform focus group questions. We then conducted five focus groups (N = 16 participants) to gather more personal and in-depth responses. Survey data indicated varying opinions related to the use of the journals and inclusion of social justice principles, whereas the focus groups were more unified in their assessment that more work is needed in this area. Participants in the focus groups brought forward issues related to inclusion and access. The readership indicated that the journals currently incorporate some aspects of these principles; however, many readers would like to see more intentional integration of these principles across the journals. Focus group members also provided a variety of action steps for consideration as the journals move forward.

The perspective of parents and their expectations of music therapy have been previously reported in the literature. However, research into parent perceptions of long-term family-centered music therapy is lacking. This qualitative study delves into the experiences of mothers with autistic children who engaged in a minimum three-year-long, family-centered music therapy program. Through semi-structured interviews with seven mothers, employing Reflexive Thematic Analysis, this study aims to comprehend the nuanced ways these parents experienced long-term music therapy for their child and family. Two main themes emerged from the analysis, each with related subthemes. Theme 1-Long-term music therapy fosters subjective well-being in the child and family, includes three subthemes: (a) sharing joy through musical interactions supports well-being; (b) an opportunity for the child to be themselves; and (c) music as a support for daily life. Theme 2-Parent perceived changes to their child's development, includes six subthemes: (a) focusing on the whole child; (b) supporting cognitive development; (c) supporting social skills; (d) supporting emotional skills; (e) supporting body awareness; and (f) developing child strengths and resources. These mothers shared that long-term music therapy sessions with their child supported them to experience a sense of relief and catharsis, which they considered helped them to cope with the challenges they faced when adapting to the different developmental path of their children. Additionally, the analysis of the parent interviews reveals their perceptions that long-term music therapy can bolster family well-being by facilitating emotional expression and capitalizing on the child's strengths. This qualitative study therefore highlights the potential multifaceted benefits of long-term music therapy, providing valuable insights into its possible role in enhancing the lives of autistic children and their families.