Table 1 Studies in HBMT
Authors | Year | Country | Participants/Conditions | Purpose of the study | Intervention/HBMT Technique | Comparison | Outcomes | Study design |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hanser, SB & Thomson, LW | 1994 | USA | 30 depressed home-bound adults ranged in age from 61 to 86 | To examine a music-facilitated psychoeducational strategy as a cost-effective and accessible intervention | 8 week program of receptive MT including 8 MT-techniques combined with mind/body interventions | Three groups with 10 patients each: (1) HBMT, (2) phone administered, and (3) control | Both HBMT and self-administered MT significantly increased in tests of depression, distress, self-esteem, and mood and remained stable after 9 month follow up | 3-armed RCT with 9-month follow-up |
Shiraishi, IM | 1997 | USA | 14 multi-risk mothers ranged in age from 21 to 41 years | To explore the prevalence of anxiety and depression and the effectiveness of MT on these symptoms | 8 week program of receptive MT | Three groups: (1) control (n = 4), (2) phone administered (n = 5) and (3) HBMT (n = 5) | Both HBMT and phone administered MT decreased depression and increased self-esteem levels. HBMT had subjective better gains than phone administered mothers | 3-armed RCT |
McBride, S | 1999 | USA | 24 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (mean age: 69 ± 5,7 years) | To examine the feasibility of using music as an intervention for dyspnea and anxiety | Receptive instrumental MT (classical, new age, easy listening) on an individual schedule | No comparison | Using preferred music as an intervention led to a decline of dyspnea and anxiety | Single armed observational study with repeated measures |
Hilliard,, RE | 2003 | USA | 80 adults diagnosed with terminal cancer (mean age: 66 years (MT group) and 65 (control group) | To evaluate the effects of MT on quality of life and length of life in care | Individualized music therapy with a variety of interventions, e.g. singing, listening or instrument playing | Two groups: (1) Routine hospice services and MT versus (2) routine hospice services only | Results clearly support music therapy in hospice and palliative care for improving quality of life of people diagnosed with terminal cancer | Randomized experimental control-group design |
Pasiali, V | 2004 | USA | 3 children (7,8 and 9 years old) with autism (diagnosis ranging from high functioning to mildly impaired) | To investigate the effect of presciptive songs on promoting social skills aquisition by autistic children | Prescriptive therapeutic songs | No comparison | Results are not conclusive, but there are some hints that prescriptive songs are a viable intervention for children with autism | Three case studies with ABAB reversal design |
Siedlecki, SL | 2005 | USA | 60 patients aged from 21 to 65 with chronic non-malignant pain (CNMP) | To examine the effect of two music-listening interventions on measures of power, pain, depression, and disability in individuals with chronic non-malignant pain | Two music-listening interventions: a standard music (SM) intervention and a patterned music therapy (PM) intervention with pleasant familiar instrumental or vocal music or the sounds of nature | Three groups: (1) standard care without MT, (2) standard music interventions, (3) a patterned music therapy | Both music-listening interventions were equally effective for increasing power, and decreasing pain, depressive symptoms, and disability associated with CNMP. Patients were taught to use music at home to moderate these symptoms | 3 armed RCT |
Muthesius, D | 2005 | Germany | 40 patients with dementia | To explore the effectiveness of HBMT and the linked support for the caring situation | Singing songs and playing familiar music | No comparison | Similar effects to in-house treatment like emotional support or orientation. More and detailed biographical details from patients, their musical resources support carers and relatives to get positive impressions of the patients | Observational study with nested in single case vignettes |
Chiang, JYK | 2008 | New Zealand | 4 carers (three mothers and one speech-langu age therapist) of children with special needs | To investigate how carergivers and other professionals perceive the music therapy process over time | Instrument playing, movement and listening to music, and singing of songs | No comparison | From the perspective of caregivers, music therapy allows them to collaborate with the music therapist. MT contributes to the development of reflective skills for delivering effective professional practice | Explorational qualitative study design with semi-structured interviews |
Baker, F et al. | On-going | Australia | 120 couples where one partner has a probable diagnosis of dementia | To advance the understanding of MT-techniques to enhance spousal relationship and reduce functional and emotional strain on the spousal caregiver | Singing familiar songs, movement to music, listening to music control: recreational reading intervention | Two groups: (1) active music intervention and (2) control group with recreational reading | Ongoing study | 2 armed RCT |
Thomas, A, et al. | 2009 | Australia | 191 clients of the Eastern Palliative Care (EPC) from 2007 to 2008 | To evaluate the effectiveness of single MT in community based palliative care. Perspectives of clients, carers and therapists are included | Live or recorded music provided by Registered Music Therapists at the EPC who are specifically trained to support people in their own home with music therapy sessions | No comparison | Music therapy supports clients with a life-threatening illness to maintain and/or improve their quality of life and also supports family members in their role as caregivers. | Observational study with nested in qualitative study |
Brandes, V | 2010 | Austria | 203 patients with depression and/or burnout and an average age of 49,6 +13,1 years | To investigate new strategies to improve therapy outcomes in psychosocial and antidepressant treatment | Individualized short-term receptive music therapy. MT was administered as single therapy or add-on therapy to antidepressants and/or psychotherapy | Four groups: (1) MT with specific newly composed music, (2) MT with specially arranged classical music, (3) a placebo group receiving nature sounds, and (4) a waiting-list control group. | Individualized short-term music therapy is beneficial as alternative or complementary depression treatment | 4 armed RCT |