Resources & references

This article explains how a music therapy support group was created to relieve some of the strain on caregivers by allowing for greater emotional support through relationships with peers and professionals, and through the increase of meaningful interactions with their loved ones with dementia. The community-based MT support group has been replicated twice within the region, and is a promising model for other communities. 

This study was an exploratory inquiry into the role of music therapy with pre-bereaved informal hospice caregivers. Engagement with resource-oriented music therapy mediates the risk of increased care burden and results in resilience fostering purposefulness and value in caregiving. Resource-oriented music therapy provides a unique clinical avenue for supporting caregivers through pre-bereavement, and was acknowledged by caregivers as a unique and integral hospice service. 

This single-blinded randomized controlled trial compares the effects of 1) active group music therapy and 2) receptive group music therapy to group counseling in treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). The conclusion is that group music therapy, either active or receptive, is an interesting adjunctive treatment option for outpatients with MDD. 

 This scoping review explores Bruscia’s (1987) clinical techniques for improvisational music therapy as they relate to music therapy in autism research to determine the most commonly used clinical techniques in music therapy with clients with autism. The work was undertaken as a preliminary step in a pilot study to explore how the techniques can be represented in terms of individual ways of playing, musical relationships; and how the use of the techniques impacts the participant’s experience of musical connection, influence, and expression

This study aimed to investigate clinical effectiveness of a structured eight-week mindfulness-based music therapy (MBMT) program on improving mood regulation in older women with blindness. 

This is an Editorial on the following Research Topic: The Clinical Neuroscience of Music: Evidence Based Approaches and Neurologic Music Therapy.

Driven by new insights from research in music and brain function, a new understanding of the capabilities of music as a complex auditory language in therapy and rehabilitation has emerged over the past 25 years. Research has shown that music engages complex perceptual, cognitive, affective, speech/language, and motor control processes in the human brain. Furthermore, translational research approaches have shown that brain processes in music perception, music cognition, and music production can engage and shape non-musical perceptual, cognitive, language, and motor functions to effectively retrain the injured brain in neurorehabilitation and neurodevelopment. Music has become a language of science again as well as a new language to change the brain.

This paper describes a Performing Arts Program, representative of Community Music Therapy. Adults with developmental disabilities participated in community-based performing ensembles — instrumental/vocal groups and American Sign Language (ASL) music interpretation groups. The Performing Arts Program was successful in fostering community engagement, social networking, and friendship building. Implications for the changing trends in music therapy are discussed.

Masters thesis that analyzes concepts of social paediatrics applied to music therapy. Results describe the application of these concepts by music therapists working within this approach. 
 

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.

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 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.

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.