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Background: Many people with refugee backgrounds suffer from trauma-related complex social and psychological problems, and compliance with standard psychological treatment tends to be low. More culturally adaptable treatment options seem to be needed. Objective: We aimed to investigate whether the music therapy method: ‘trauma-focused music and imagery’ (tr-MI), characterized by a particular focus on arousal and affect regulation, would be equally effective as the standard psychological talk therapies for ameliorating trauma symptoms in Danish refugees. Methods: A pragmatic, noninferiority, parallel, randomized controlled trial with six-month follow-up was carried out at three clinics for refugees in the public mental health services of the Psychiatry (DK). Seventy-four adults diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were allocated to either music therapy sessions (tr-MI, N = 39) or psychological treatment as usual (TAU, N = 35). Western classical music, new age music, and music from the participants’ own national culture were used to generate inner imagery, following a phased treatment protocol. Homework entailed listening to music. The primary outcome was the measurement of trauma symptoms by the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, section IV (HTQ-IV); secondary measures were somatoform and psychoform dissociation (DSS-20), SDQ-20), attachment (RAAS), and well-being (WHO-5). Treatment effects reflected by primary and secondary measures were estimated using linear mixed models. Results: Tr-MI was noninferior to TAU (mean difference at follow-up HTQ-IV: 0.14, CI (−0.10; 0.38), with a − 0.3 noninferiority margin). A high dropout rate of 40% occurred in the TAU group, compared to 5% in the music therapy group. Secondary measures generated small to medium effect sizes in both groups, with significant medium effect sizes for well-being and psychoform dissociation at follow-up in tr-MI. Conclusions: Tr-MI is an innovative form of psychological treatment in refugee mental health services. Trials comparing music therapy to standardized therapy are needed to substantiate the evidence base for tr-MI therapy., HIGHLIGHTS Music therapy was shown to be no less effective than standard psychological treatment regarding the decrease of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in a randomized clinical trial with 74 adult traumatized refugees. Good retainment and significant changes in well-being and dissociation during six-month follow-up were found in music therapy.

Traumatized refugees seeking treatment in special units of psychiatry are in need of treatment options that can help them stabilize and cope with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in their everyday life. Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) has improved psychological health for clinical populations including trauma survivors with PTSD. Prior to the implementation of a randomized controlled study, a clinical non-controlled study was carried out to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a trauma-focused modification of GIM combined with standard treatment with medication, and to examine the suitability of chosen instruments to measure reduction of PTSD symptoms in refugees. Sixteen adult refugees with PTSD were enrolled and they all completed 16 one-hour individual sessions. Pre-post measures of PTSD symptoms, sleep quality, well-being and social function demonstrated significant changes with large effect sizes. Evaluation of the single sessions showed that participants found the therapy acceptable and helpful. All participants used music listening for self-care in their homes between sessions. The findings indicate that trauma-focused modified GIM was well accepted and has a potential as an effective treatment for refugees with PTSD. A larger randomized controlled trial to validate these findings is warranted. Traumatized refugees seeking treatment in special units of psychiatry are in need of treatment options that can help them stabilize and cope with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in their everyday life. Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) has improved psychological health for clinical populations including trauma survivors with PTSD. Prior to the implementation of a randomized controlled study, a clinical non-controlled study was carried out to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a trauma-focused modification of GIM combined with standard treatment with medication, and to examine the suitability of chosen instruments to measure reduction of PTSD symptoms in refugees. Sixteen adult refugees with PTSD were enrolled and they all completed 16 one-hour individual sessions. Pre–post measures of PTSD symptoms, sleep quality, well-being and social function demonstrated significant changes with large effect sizes. Evaluation of the single sessions showed that participants found the therapy acceptable and helpful. All participants used music listening for self-care in their homes between sessions. The findings indicate that trauma-focused modified GIM was well accepted and has a potential as an effective treatment for refugees with PTSD. A larger randomized controlled trial to validate these findings is warranted.

This article is based on a study concerning music psychotherapy based on a Group Music and Imagery method. The model used is based on patients' listening experiences during selected, primarily classical music, specially designed for an inpatient setting. The patients report their experiences to the group after the music intervention and the material is used as a part of the therapy process. The music listening is supported by verbal guiding from the therapist, to help the patients to focus. Nine psychiatric patients diagnosed as schizophrenic or with schizotypical disorders participated in a therapy group during a six–month period, and the study focuses on restitutional factors in the therapeutic process and the patients' evaluation of their therapy. The methodology is primarily qualitative and the investigation is in two parts. Part one concerns the patients– evaluation of the therapy based on interviews, the GAF rating scale, and a qualitative questionnaire including a mood test and aspects of the patie...

The article focuses on a qualitative music psychotherapy research project at Set. Hans Hospital in Denmark. Nine patients participated in a group music therapy setting over six months. The article describes the effect of music therapy on the patients' level of functioning and the patients' own evaluation of the music therapy. Data sources included the GAF (DSM axis 5), a self-administered questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. The music therapy model used is a receptive approach using music and imagery inspired by GIM. The model used is based on patients' imagery during selected, primarily classical, music specially designed for an inpatient setting. Results: The GAF investigation showed a positive effect of 7.2% in a meridian score, and the interview and questionnaires pointed out which parts of the therapy the patients found most supportive. The study indicates that the music therapy group was a good support for the patients, and the identified results suggest the need for investigations and empi...

Artiklen omhandler et forskningsprojekt på Sct. Hans Hospital, hvor effekten af receptiv korttidsterapi med misbrugspatienter undersøges. Atten patienter med misbrugsproblematik deltog i et kognitivt terapi-program, som inkluderede receptiv musikterapi i en gruppesetting. Størsteparten af deltagerne havde udover en alvorlig misbrugsproblematik en diagnose indenfor ICD 10s spektrum af personlighedsforstyrrelser. Effekten af musikterapien blev undersøgt ved hjælp af Antonovskys spørgeskema Oplevelse Af Sammenhæng (OAS-29), og et semistruktureret interview efter terapiperioden på ti sessioner. Interviewet fokuserede på patienternes opfattelse af, hvad de havde haft mest gavn af i terapiperioden. Resultaterne viste en signifikant fremgang i alle tre OAS sub-skalaer (meningsfuldhed, begribelighed, håndterbarhed), og alle deltagerne fandt at musikterapidelen af deres program var en betydningsfuld udvidelse af den kognitive terapi. For flertallet af deltagerne spillede musikterapien en væsentlig rolle i deres restitueringsproces, og specifikke billeder, symboler og følelser fra musikterapien gjorde stærkt indtryk på dem. Artiklen præsenterer udvalgte musikeksempler og kliniske vignetter.