Resources & references

Read an article presenting an economic model for the implementation of community-based music therapy treatment for individuals living with dementia in the UK. Findings suggest that music therapy may be a cost-effective longer term intervention for this population, and may support policy makers in increasing access to MT care. 

Read an article exploring an online volunteer music therapy project offering support to frontline healthcare workers and their children during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations for future practice in crisis intervention for music therapists is also discussed.

Read an article about the impact of sociodemographic risk on the reported benefits of a specific music therapy intervention, active music engagement (AME), for families with children undergoing treatment for cancer. Results suggested that families with higher risk experienced more benefits from AME than families with lower risk.

This study examines the uniquely situated characteristics of music therapists’ musicianship. 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.

Click here to read a summary of this study.

This study aimed to co-design an international best practice agenda for research into music therapy for informal carers of patients pre- and post-death bereavement. Results show that the effectiveness of music therapy in supporting informal carers across the bereavement continuum should be prioritised. This should be done using a mixed methods design to draw on the strengths of different methodological approaches to building the evidence base. It should involve service users throughout.

Read an article seeking to develop a music therapy assessment tool to meet the unique needs of individuals with severe to profound multiple disabilities. The resulting tool was deemed impractical for use, and suggestions for future research discusses the development of guidelines for working with this population, rather than a specific tool.

Read about facilitators and barriers to the development and integration of an inpatient music therapy program for neurorehabilitation, from the perspective of patients, family members, and various health care professionals.

The purpose of this study was to design and pilot a music therapy-driven grief processing assessment instrument with bereaved adolescents receiving group songwriting interventions. Grief process areas were developed through a descriptive analysis of a total of 123 songs previously written by bereaved adolescents who received weekly music therapy and grief counselling over a period of 36 months. 

This study presents music therapy group work with six soldiers diagnosed as suffering from combat or terror related PTSD. Some reduction in PTSD symptoms was observed following drumming, especially increased sense of openness, togetherness, belonging, sharing, closeness, connectedness and intimacy, as well as achieving a non-intimidating access to traumatic memories, facilitating an outlet for rage and regaining a sense of self-control.

This pilot controlled prospective and cohort trial assessed feasibility and effects of twice-weekly group West African drum circle classes for 6 weeks on Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients’ quality of life, symptoms, motor findings, cognition, and mood. Drum circle classes significantly and reversibly improved quality of life in patients with PD.

The purpose of this two-part study was to confirm the relationship between dyadic drum playing and social skills and to further develop a rhythm-mediated music therapy intervention for improving the social skills of children with ASD. Participants showed greater engagement in joint action following the intervention. This study supports potential benefit of the rhythm-mediated intervention using dyadic drum playing and provides preliminary evidence strengthening its use in the social domain for individuals with ASD.

Discover how EEG data validated the positive effect of music therapy on emotional well-being, as well as reduction of breathing difficulties, anxiety, and fatigue for a group of cancer patients in a palliative care context.