Week 10: Music and Health

Music therapy use 4 main teatments models, either psychosocial or curative approaches

1. Medical model – (physiological) impact of music on heart rate, breathing. Instantaneous responses often to the detriment of long-term effects.

2. Psychoanalysis – (unconscious) emphasize the symbolic nature of a clients musical behavior during a session i.e. overt behaviors are interpreted as indicative of internal states

3. Behavioral therapy – Treats physcial symptoms rather than unobservable/psychological disorders e.g. reinforcements of desired behavior through reward/token system, contingent music listening.

4. Humanistic psychology –(conscious process) self-actualisation, making most of one’s potential, individual differences, freedom of choice, self-esteem, emphaise relationships, feelings.

Standley's meta-analysis (1995) of 55 studies on effects of music on patients with medical and dental disorders – used to convince medical field of benefit of music therapy. Highlighted 7 means of employing music in medical and dental settings

1. Passive music listening-reduce pain and anxiety, enhance anaesthesia effects

2. Active music listening-structured exercise to reduce pain in movement or structure breathing for childbirth

3. Music and counseling techniques-used for terminal, serious illness to provide families opportunity to reminisce, closure, disuss, interpersonal relationships

4. Music and development or educational objectives-structured learning for children under long-term hospitalization

5. Music and stimulation-e.g comatose, brain damaged, premature babies. Preferred music is played in conjunction with attempts to stimulate other senses

6. Music and biofeedback-structure physiological responses to increase awareness, self-control. Music used as reward for desired response

7. Music and group activity

Music and pain relief/stress relief

1960’s Gate control theory- experiencing pain is mediated by the mind, not attributable to passive reception by the brain of pain messages from other arts of the body

AND

music therpists have determined that the intensity and quality of pain can be mediated by expectation, suggestion, attention distractors (measured by cortisol levels)

The impact of music on stress can also aid in stronger immune system (lower stress, improved immune system) and use of lullabies on premature babies.