PERCEPTIONS OF MUSIC THERAPY CONTRAINDICATIONS WITH PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA AND REPORTED TREATMENT PRACTICES BASED ON LEVEL OF INSIGHT

Date

2018-11-14

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

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.

Description

Keywords

Music therapy, Contraindications, Schizophrenia, Harm, Mental health, Board-certified, Survey

Citation