Niels Hannibal

Randomized Trial of Group Music Therapy With Chinese Prisoners Impact on Anxiety, Depression, and Self-Esteem

This study investigated the effects of group music therapy on improving anxiety, depression, and self-esteem in Chinese prisoners. Two-hundred male prisoners were randomly assigned to music therapy (n = 100) or standard care (n = 100). The music therapy had 20 sessions of group therapy compared with standard care. Anxiety (State and Trait Anxiety Inventory [STAI]), depression (Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]), and self-esteem (Texas Social Behavior Inventory [TSBI], Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory [RSI]) were measured by standardized scales at baseline, mid-program, and post-program. Data were analyzed based on the intention to treat principle. Compared with standard care, anxiety and depression in the music therapy condition decreased significantly at mid-test and post-test; self-esteem improved significantly at mid-test (TSBI) and at post-test (TSBI, RSI). Improvements were greater in younger participants (STAI-Trait, RSI) and/or in those with a lower level of education (STAI-State, STAI-Trait). Group music therapy seems to be effective in improving anxiety, depression, and self-esteem and was shown to be most beneficial for prisoners of younger age or with lower education level.

Group music therapy for prisoners: Protocol for a randomised controlled trial

The prevalence of psychological problems is high in prisons. Many prisoners have unmet needs for appropriate treatments. Although previous studies have suggested music therapy to be a successful treatment modality for prisoners, more rigorous evidence is needed. This parallel randomised controlled study aims to investigate the effectiveness of group music therapy to reduce anxiety and depression, and raise self-esteem in prisoners. One hundred and ninety two inmates from a Chinese prison will be allocated to two groups through randomisation. The experimental group will participate in twice weekly group music therapy for 10 weeks (20 sessions), while the control group will receive all standard care but no music therapy. Anxiety, depression and self-esteem will be measured by self-report scales three times: before, at the middle and at the end of the intervention. Logs by the participants and their daily routine behaviour records will be utilised as additional information. This study will increase the knowledge of the effectiveness of group music therapy for offenders. Generalisability to clinical practice will be strengthened by the flexibility of the intervention and a practical clinical guideline. We hope the findings will be able to support the further development of music therapy in correctional service.

Schizophrenia and personality disorder patients’ adherence to music therapy

Background: Music therapy is used in psychiatric treatment of severe psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, depression and personality disorder. Aim: To investigate adherence and predictors for adherence to music therapy treatment in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or personality disorder. Method: Demographic, psychiatric and therapeutic data were collected for 27 patients receiving music therapy treatment over a 1-year observation period and a 1-year follow-up period. Predictors for adherence to music therapeutic treatment were determined by means of regression analysis. Results: Drop-out from treatment was low (11.5%) and none of the variables significantly predicted adherence. Lack of significance may be because of type 2 error. Conclusion: Patients with severe mental disorder may adhere to music therapy treatment.

Meet Hui in music: A case report of group music therapy for a Chinese male prisoner

ABSTRACT This case report illustrates the change process of one inmate participant in a music therapy group. The case was selected from a research project of group music therapy for offenders. The participant, Hui, a male inmate, participated in 20 biweekly sessions of group music therapy for male adult inmates in a Chinese prison. Three methods, music improvisation, music and imagery, and song writing, were used in the therapy. Music therapy led Hui (pseudonym) to change from a defensive isolated man into a person who was able to experience and share his emotions with other group members through music. In this case report, we detail the transformative process of Hui and elaborate the music therapist’s reflection from theoretical and cultural perspectives. Later, the theoretical issues related to treatment in offender rehabilitation context are discussed in-depth. By making the intervention process transparent, we hope this case report can help readers to understand how the effects of music therapy on decreasing anxiety and depression and improving self-esteem that have been found in research may have taken place in the intervention.

Feasibility of Using the Helping Alliance Questionnaire II as a Self-Report Measure for Individuals with a Psychiatric Disorder Receiving Music Therapy

Background No specific instrument has been developed for measuring alliance during music therapy. Objective To evaluate the feasibility of using the Helping Alliance Questionnaire II (HAq-II) as a self-report measure for individuals receiving treatment for a psychiatric disorder. Specifically, we examined the percent of patients who filled out the questionnaire, and when completed, whether there were any missing items. We also examined internal consistency and associations between patient variables and HAq-II scores. Methods Between October 2013 and April 2014, we invited 45 individuals with a psychiatric disorder, who were also receiving music therapy, to fill out the HAq-II. We also collected clinical data from each persons record. Results Thirty-one (69%) of the 45 invited patients filled out the HAq-II, and of those completed, only three had missing items. Of the 45 invited patients, thirty (67%) had a diagnosis of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders, and 11 (24%) were diagnosed with other psychiatric disorders. In terms of diagnosis and other clinical variables, no statistically significant differences were found between the 31 patients who filled out the HAq-II and the 14 patients who did not return the questionnaire. The median HAq-II score was 5.11 (range 3.74-6.00), indicating a relatively high alliance. We did not find any statistically significant associations between the HAq-II scores and potential predictors of interest. The Cronbachs alpha was 0.85. Conclusions Completion of the HAq-II was fairly high in this group of individuals with psychiatric diagnoses who were receiving music therapy. Internal consistency of the HAq-II was acceptable. Relatively high HAq-II scores suggest a high degree of therapeutic alliance, but the external validity of the HAq-II and the relationship between scores and therapy needs further evaluation.

At oversætte musikterapeutisk interaktion til teoretisk beskrivelse

Den konkrete musikterapeutiske virkelighed, som musikterapeuten moder den i klinikken, skal i en formidlingssituation oversaettes fra det speeilikke musikterapeutiske sprog til et generelt terapisprog. Denne oversaettelse kraever et terapiteoretisk sprog, der opbygges gennem assimilation af teoretiske begreber, og medforer dannelse af teoretiske gestalter. De teoretiske gestalter formidler en genkendelighed af begreberne i den oplevede virkelighed. Udfra en komplimentaer analysemodel betragtes begivenheder i den musikterapeutiske praksis enten som punkter, der former gestalten (punktform), eller som en udstrakt fortaelling, der beskriver gestalten (udstrakt form). Dette muliggor identifikation/genkendelse af de for oversaettelsen relevante teoretiske begreber fra konkret til generel terapiteoretisk beskrivelse. Det teoretiske gestaltbegreb er inspereret af den morfologiske musikterapiteoritradition.