Rhapsody as Therapy: Combating Depression Caused by Schizophrenia with Music

People who are struggling with schizophrenia and depression sometimes show characteristics including a flattening of emotions as well as a disinterest in socialization. Professionals and patients often find themselves struck by a barrier of communication which can then lead therapy processes towards a dead end. Without a steady amount of communication back and forth from patient and professional, the effective quality of therapy can decrease. Studies have suggested that individual music therapy can increase the productivity and effective quality of clinical therapy by opening more modes of communication (Pavlicevic, Trevarthen, and Duncan, 1994).

In a randomized controlled trial, 2/3 of patients attended at least four sessions of music therapy. In these sessions, a trend was found where general symptoms of schizophrenia were lessening. Among these symptoms was the ability to manage difficult emotions and depression. It was found that music therapy for in-patient schizophrenia patients is a feasible option to aid clinical sessions (Talwar, Crawford, Maratos, Nur, Mcdermott, and Procter, 2006).

Regarding depression symptoms, music therapy has proven to be effective in the treatment of depression itself, but studies have not clearly considered the underlying conditions that cause depression, such as schizophrenia. However, patients who have undergone music therapy as an aid to their standard mental care have found that regardless of the type of standard care, music therapy has shown to improve the quality of those forms of care. The response of music therapy as a tool to decrease depression and anxiety symptoms of conditions such as schizophrenia has proven successful (Erkkila, Gold, Fachner, Ala-Ruona, Punkanen, and Vanhala, 2008).

Furthermore, Rhapsody, in addition to other services, can be accessed through a mobile app. Not only can Rhapsody be used for individual therapy, but it can also be incorporated into groups. What is most beneficial is the ability to test how different musical stimulants affect the patient. Because Rhapsody is teeming with the opportunity to sample and test several different music genres, it can be a source of several music styles, beyond the usual calming types used with schizophrenia and depression patients. Professionals can experiment with not only sound and tone but also lyrics as a form of communication. Rhapsody can be a wonderful tool to engage patients in and outside of clinical therapy sessions.

References

Erkkila, J., Gold, C., Fachner, J., Ala-Ruona, E., Punkanen, M., & Vanhala, M. (2008).

The effect of improvisational music therapy on the treatment of depression: Protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry, 8(1), 50.

Pavlicevic, M., Trevarthen, C., & Duncan, J. (1994). Improvisational music therapy and the rehabilitation of persons suffering from chronic schizophrenia. Journal of Music Therapy, 31(2), 86-104.

Talwar, N., Crawford, M. J., Maratos, A., Nur, U., McDermott, O., & Procter, S. (2006).

Music therapy for in-patients with schizophrenia: Exploratory randomised controlled trial. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 189(5), 405-409.