Paste your essay in here…Music Therapy is an affective approach to mental health
World wide it is estimated that 450 million people have a mental health problem (BAMT 2010). According to the BAMT (Britsish Association For Music Therapy) one in four people experience a mental health problem in their lifetime and music therapy is widely recognised as a effective psychological intervention in the care of children and adults undergoing treatment for mental health. Musical Therapy is associated with the trauma and disruption caused by mental health issues. In Chinese medical theory, the five internal organ and meridian systems are believed to have corresponding musical tones, which are used to encourage healing
( Ulbricbht 2013). Music alongside imagery stimulates differed states of conciseness which create different emotional states ( Ulbricbht 2013). In some cases this has been found to create the feeling of happiness and emotional uprise. Although music is extremely subjective to the culture and context we live in it is as an effective treatment to mental heath problems.
There is strong research and evidence to suggest that music therapy is effective in the treatment of many different medical conditions. In 2011 it was found that people who listen to music that they enjoy more produced a higher rate of dopamine, the feel good chemical in your brain. It was actually found that dopamine levels where 9% higher when people listen to music that they enjoyed (Ozorio 2011).
According to the American Psychiatric Association Autism is is classified as a type of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism is related to problems with Communication, Social Interaction and Unusual repetitive behaviours. People who have autism have been found to have a heightened interest and response to music. This has been found to aid the development of non verbal communication skills. Music therapy helps the mental functions and learning of autistic children and adults by engaging and supporting the core weakness in the coordination of motives (CT 2002). People with autism tend to have a weakened sense of concentration and receptivity. Improvised musical engagement aids people with autism to enjoy human interaction more by stimulating episodes of concerted activity (CT 2002). Based on number of studies performed in 2006 by Cochrane Developmental, Psychosocial and Learning Problems Group it was found that the short-term effects of brief
music therapy interventions were a success in aiding communications skills, when daily sessions were carried out over a week or so. However effects on behavioural problems for people with autism were not significant. Most of the researchers involved found that more work was needed to find out whether long term positive long terms effects were able to be achieved.
Dementia refers to a loss of cognitive function. This refers to an intellectual process resulting in an understanding, perception, or awareness of a persons thoughts and ideas. Dementia is rapidly becoming the health and social care challenge of the 21st century. Numbers affected are set to soar because of an expanding older population. The total number of people with dementia in the UK is predicted to be in excess of 1 million by 2021 (Age UK). Dementia is normally caused by changes to the brain caused by trauma ( Ulbricbht 2013). Further studies in mental health treatment have found the use of music therapy as a approach to dementia is extremely effective. The use of music therapy in dementia patients has been found to reduce the aggressive behavioural episodes of individuals. Kimmo Lehtonen, PhD, professor of education at the University of Turku (Finland) (2002) who has practiced musical therapy for over twenty five years found in his research that music formed a vital landscape of memories, which helped old people to work through their wartime memories. Therapists have been using music therapy to promote memory and a sense of self in the treatment of older adults with dementia. ‘Music therapy has many faces’ (Lehtonen 2002 ). During His work Lehtonen worked together with two social workers and used a lot of music in order to activate their memories, social relationships and expression.They noticed that there were certain key songs, which easily opened their mental locks and helped with painful memories. These songs represent Kleinian "healing sorrow" which enables feelings to break through without too much pain and suffering. Depending on the patient music therapists can alter the type of music or genre to provoke different feelings. In the case of dementia patients they tend to be older in age purely because of the nature of the illness. Songs from the past can provoke good memories and bring on episodes of happiness (Lehtonen 2002 ). Juliann Schaeffer (2017) visits John Carpente works. Carpente founder and executive director of the Rebecca Center for Music Therapy in New York and a licensed, board-certified music therapist work in his article, “Meeting individually and within a group, elder clients express themselves and recall the memories that music sparks and stimulates”. My grandmother has had dementia for some years now and she can remember songs from her youth but cant always remember Familiar faces. She is always happy when she sings. In a similar research Carpente found that listening to music and being involved in music making experiences gives a better quality of life to those patients involved. Carpente talks of a brake from the isolation that the Alzheimer's disease and dementia imposes on patients. Overall Carpente found through research that music therapy can provoke memory recall;have positive effects in emotional states;give a sense of control over life; non-pharmacological management of pain and discomfort;stimulates vocal fluency;opportunities to interact socially with others. Short term positive changes in lifestyle seem to be the general effects of music therapy in terms of dementia. In a article on Music therapy by Jacqueline Craig (2014) a staff nurse at Nottingham University Hospitals behaviour problems like agitation are brought to light. Dementia causes distress to all those involved. Finding successful interventions is important to reducing agitation. Music therapy as Ive already discussed has been found to increase communication for dementia patients. According to Craig J (2014) Music therapy sessions are key to reducing distress and agitation in patients who feel a loss of self and frustration.
Depression or depressive disorder is an illness that involves the body,mood and thoughts (Ulbricbht 2013). Depression is considered a mood disorder it effects the general ongoings of ones life. Sleeping,eating,social interaction and motivation is all affected (Ulbricbht 2013). According to the Mental Health Organisation In 2014, 19.7% of people in the UK aged 16 and over showed symptoms of anxiety or depression. This percentage was higher among females (22.5%) than males (16.8%)(MHO 2014). There is evidence that music therapy may increase responsiveness to antidepressant medications (Swartz 2013). In music therapy sessions that combine listening to music and actually physically making or learning music patients are able to express themselves nonverbally. Depression often hinders the patients ability to talk about their problems so non verbal expression is key to the treatment (Swartz 2013). Others find receptive music therapy soothing and relaxing which can allow the patient to let go of negative feelings. In active music therapy, the therapist and the patient improvise using basic drum machines or the voice. A review was done of some studies on music therapy and depression (Center For The Advancement Of Health (2008). The studies were carried out to see if music therapy might help ease the symptoms of depression, though its effectiveness as a stand-alone intervention is not certain according to a recent review of five small studies. In the studies carried out by Maratos in 2008 it was found that music therapy was most effective when patients had structured therapy sessions rather than just random music making. The study referred to theses successful sessions as ‘coherent theoretical framework’ As the lead author of the studies Maratos found that when a very coherent explanation of what went on in the session and obvious reasons why the therapists were carrying out that type of session lead to clear alteration in the condition that was being addressed (Maratos 2008). Therapeutic interventions included listening to music in groups, body movement,painting to music and improvised singing. Although the studies did not show a definitive cause and effect relationship between the musical intervention sessions and Depression. The authors did find a positive correlation. Shara Sand, Psy.D., clinical assistant professor of psychology at Yeshiva University in New York City said that conclusion from the studies and reviews was not possible. However the evidence of music influencing the patients having the interventions makes the research question interesting and worth investigation. It is also Important to remember the physical act of music. The act of playing music requires purposeful and physical movement. The role of physical activity is well recognised in averting depression and alleviating its effects is well recognised. Its not so much just getting up and moving but allowing people to ‘experience themselves as physical beings’ The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2010.
After addressing how music therapy treatments can aid and improve the quality of an individuals day to day experience its draws me to involve the thinkings of Ancient Greek philosopher, Plato (428-347 BC), quoted “music gives wings to mind”. Furthermore Lehtonen speaks of the positive effects of music. As a form of art, music functions "in the borderland of the internal and external" (Lehtonen 2001/2) With the help of music it is possible for the individual to handle internal as external and external as internal. The basic stand point of Interventions carries out using musical therapy are based on the emotive outcomes of listening to music. ‘Music has the power to modulate our emotions’ (Hurley 2008) Though the scientific evidence is hard to base conclusive data on the influence is strongly evident in patients with mental health.