The
idea of using music to heal has been postulated as early as in the
writings of Aristotle and Plato. The first recorded music therapy
intervention was in the 1800s in an institutional setting (Blackwell’s
island in New York). Interest in music therapy continued to gain support
thereafter.
By definition, music therapy is the evidence-based clinical use of music interventions to accomplish individualized therapeutic goals by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program [1].
Modern music therapy consists of two main domains. One traditional working area is psychiatric music therapy, where music is used as a tool of self-expression and interaction. Another traditional domain is music therapy for developmental and neurological disorders. While psychiatric music therapy is often based on a relatively free and spontaneous working paradigm, music therapy for developmental and neurological diseases is more structured and method-oriented [2].
It is hard to find anyone who does not like music at all. Vast differences exist only when we talk about emotions different music can arouse or personal experiences that have been attached. Since the majority of psychiatric disorders are associated with emotional disorders, it is no wonder that music has been useful to regulate emotion. Fortunately, experiences with emotional entities and interaction become possible with music therapy even when verbal expression is absent, which is the case with infants, people with dementia, or patients suffering from acute psychosis. Music therapy, however, is not limited to listening; actively playing an instrument can also be rewarding for body coordination and motor function of patients with motor disabilities. Finally, it is often not only the music but also the relationship between the patient and the therapist that makes the therapy work.
To sum up, music therapy is one of the most important complementary therapies and can be applied to various diseases. Music therapy research is also an active area [3-5], which greatly promotes the development and new applications of music therapy in both psychiatric and neurological clinical settings. Isn't it nice that we can both enjoy music and be healed at the same time?
References
[1] http://www.musictherapy.org/about/quotes/
[2] http://www.ithp.org/articles/musictherapy.html
[3] Sakarmo et al, Brain, 2008
[4] Morgan et al, Acta Psychiatr Scand, 2011
[5] Srinivasan and Bhat, Front Integr Neurosci, 2013
By Tian Zhang, PhD Student Medical Neurosciences, AG Clinical Neurosciences
This article originally appeared 2013 in CNS Volume 6, Issue 4, Integrative Medicine
By definition, music therapy is the evidence-based clinical use of music interventions to accomplish individualized therapeutic goals by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program [1].
Modern music therapy consists of two main domains. One traditional working area is psychiatric music therapy, where music is used as a tool of self-expression and interaction. Another traditional domain is music therapy for developmental and neurological disorders. While psychiatric music therapy is often based on a relatively free and spontaneous working paradigm, music therapy for developmental and neurological diseases is more structured and method-oriented [2].
It is hard to find anyone who does not like music at all. Vast differences exist only when we talk about emotions different music can arouse or personal experiences that have been attached. Since the majority of psychiatric disorders are associated with emotional disorders, it is no wonder that music has been useful to regulate emotion. Fortunately, experiences with emotional entities and interaction become possible with music therapy even when verbal expression is absent, which is the case with infants, people with dementia, or patients suffering from acute psychosis. Music therapy, however, is not limited to listening; actively playing an instrument can also be rewarding for body coordination and motor function of patients with motor disabilities. Finally, it is often not only the music but also the relationship between the patient and the therapist that makes the therapy work.
To sum up, music therapy is one of the most important complementary therapies and can be applied to various diseases. Music therapy research is also an active area [3-5], which greatly promotes the development and new applications of music therapy in both psychiatric and neurological clinical settings. Isn't it nice that we can both enjoy music and be healed at the same time?
References
[1] http://www.musictherapy.org/about/quotes/
[2] http://www.ithp.org/articles/musictherapy.html
[3] Sakarmo et al, Brain, 2008
[4] Morgan et al, Acta Psychiatr Scand, 2011
[5] Srinivasan and Bhat, Front Integr Neurosci, 2013
By Tian Zhang, PhD Student Medical Neurosciences, AG Clinical Neurosciences
This article originally appeared 2013 in CNS Volume 6, Issue 4, Integrative Medicine
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