PERCEPTIONS OF MUSIC THERAPY CONTRAINDICATIONS WITH PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA AND REPORTED TREATMENT PRACTICES BASED ON LEVEL OF INSIGHT
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Abstract
This study surveyed board-certified music therapists (MT-BC’s) who worked
with patients diagnosed with schizophrenia within the past twelve months to determine
how and when music therapy contraindications were identified as well as how treatment
decisions vary based on level of insight that the patient possesses. A survey was created
using Qualtrics survey software and dispersed to an email list obtained through the
Certification Board for Music Therapists to MT-BC’s that identified themselves as
working in mental health. The survey was sent to a total of 762 MT-BC’s, of which 52
completed the survey in its entirety and that data was compiled for results. Results
showed that music therapists reported that contraindications are more likely to be
identified during the assessment process than during the treatment process. Additionally,
the MT-BC’s surveyed indicated that they performed the initial assessment only about
43.62% percent of the time, meaning that contraindications that occur during the
treatment process may have been avoided if a music therapist personally performed the
initial assessment. Additionally, treatment trends based on the level of insight a patient
possesses were noted such as an increase in the amount of structure used for patients with
lower level of insight and an increase in amount of structure used for patients with a
higher level of insight.