Aiming for change : exploring the benefits of music therapy on patients diagnosed with schizophrenia in a Turkish university hospital

Abstract

Although music therapy is an evidence-based and effective therapy method in clinical psychiatric settings all around the world, the literature on music therapy use in Turkish clinical settings is extremely limited. This study aims to show the clinical benefits of music therapy in a Turkish university hospital, to enable further research and promote the recognition of music therapy as a valid clinical method in this country. A study was conducted within a clinical setting with 6 patients currently under standard care due to diagnoses of schizophrenia or schizophrenia-like disorders by the hospital staff. The participants attended 20 music therapy sessions, which met twice a week, with pre-post clinical psychological tests applied around the sessions. The results reveal that group music therapy supports the well-being of out-patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Significant changes on general functionality, personal and social performance, depression levels, difficulties in emotion regulation concerning emotional awareness and decrease in the level of submissive and helpless ways of coping with stress are reported. Session notes consisting of the therapy crew’s observations support the statistical analysis of these benefits. These findings show that music therapy can be beneficial on multiple dimensions for people diagnosed with schizophrenia in a Turkish university hospital; and therefore, more implication opportunities are suggested.