Music therapy: a novel motivational approach for dually diagnosed patients

J Addict Dis. 2008;27(1):41-53. doi: 10.1300/J069v27n01_05.

Abstract

Co-occurring mental illness and addiction is very common and results in worse treatment outcomes compared to singly diagnosed addicted individuals. Integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders is associated with better treatment outcomes; however there is a wide range of what is included in integrated treatment. Due to patient and staff interests, integrated treatment often includes complementary and alternative therapies, including music and art therapy. There is a need to study how these approaches effect treatment engagement, retention, and outcome. This study was a prospective naturalistic non-randomized pilot study without a control group that sought to evaluate how participation in a music therapy program affected treatment outcomes for individuals with co-occurring mental illness and addiction. In summary, music therapy appears to be a novel motivational tool in a severely impaired inpatient sample of patients with co-occurring disorders. Future studies of music therapy in integrated co-occurring disorder setting should include a control group.

MeSH terms

  • AIDS Dementia Complex / diagnosis
  • AIDS Dementia Complex / epidemiology
  • AIDS Dementia Complex / rehabilitation
  • Adult
  • Bipolar Disorder / diagnosis
  • Bipolar Disorder / epidemiology
  • Bipolar Disorder / rehabilitation
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Comorbidity
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / diagnosis
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / epidemiology
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / rehabilitation
  • Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry)
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology
  • Mental Disorders / rehabilitation*
  • Middle Aged
  • Music Therapy / methods*
  • New York City
  • Pilot Projects
  • Prospective Studies
  • Psychiatric Department, Hospital
  • Psychotic Disorders / diagnosis
  • Psychotic Disorders / epidemiology
  • Psychotic Disorders / rehabilitation
  • Schizophrenia / diagnosis
  • Schizophrenia / epidemiology
  • Schizophrenia / rehabilitation
  • Substance-Related Disorders / diagnosis
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / rehabilitation*