The practice of music therapy has shown
theoretical and empirical evidence that promotes and facilitates healing among
active-duty military personnel and veterans with trauma exposure and
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), as well as a tool for addressing its
symptoms. As part of treatment and management of PTSD, music therapy is
considered as an alternative self-management technique, in addition to
psychotherapy, medication, and non-traditional therapies such as service
animals. Its applications date back in 1945, when the U.S. War Department issued Technical Bulletin 187 detailing a
program on “the use of music for reconditioning among service members
convalescing in Army hospitals.”
PTSD is defined as a condition that can
develop “after exposure to a potentially traumatic event that is beyond a
typical stressor.” Military personnel are at risk
for developing PTSD caused by combat exposure. It is essential to
understand the role and contribution of music therapy on clinical outcomes as a
complementary and integrative treatment to address this condition.
The white paper titled “U.S. Military, Music
Therapy, and Technology: Strategic Use of Music to Support VA Mission” by music
therapists Hope Young and Emily Morris cited an AMTA status report in 2014 that
recommended the use of music in the VA’s rehabilitation programs to “address
pain management and for social, emotional, and behavioral health, and has shown
significant results.” It cited interventions which include, but are not limited
to “instrument lessons, lyric analysis, composition, improvisation, relaxation,
guided imagery, and music-oriented coping skills.”
Moreover, it cited one study of veterans with PTSD which
reports a 22% decrease in overall PTSD symptoms, as measured by the
Post-traumatic stress disorder Checklist - Civilian (PCL-C) scale, as well as a
28% reduction in depression symptoms. Health-related quality of life, as
measured by the EuroQoL, improved by 21%, and self-reported cognitive
difficulties decreased by 13% (Pezzin et al., 2018). These outcomes were
observed after six weeks of intervention. Similar studies also show an increase
in self-regulation, decreased anxiety and panic, and decreased dissociations
(Lightstone et al., 2015). According to the white paper, “these studies are
positive outcome measures achieved through music therapy’s use in the VA which
enables the government’s push to increase total wellness care initiatives for
veterans.”
There is a growing demand for board-certified
music therapy clinicians utilizing music therapy services for America’s service
members, veterans, and their families. This is in part due to its greater
accessibility. A study notes that music therapy carries less
stigma as a therapeutic option for treating post-traumatic stress, compared to
other evidence-based interventions such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy (TF-CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Eye Movement
Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), and Prolonged Exposure (PE),
which are time-intensive, require highly specialized and lengthy clinical
training and supervision, and have been associated with high levels of
attrition. However, it is important to note that researching music-based
interventions designed to inform evidence-based music therapy interventions for
service members and families is an integral part of a collaborative,
interdisciplinary, and cross-disciplinary approach to support this undertaking
and is not used in isolation.
Several empirical studies showed that
employing music therapy to address PTSD and its symptoms have yielded the
following outcomes:
●
Improved feelings of self-worth
and reduction of isolation using group drumming therapy. (Bensimon, Amir, & Wolf, 2008)
●
Significant reduction of
post traumatic stress symptoms using CBT alone or CBT with additional 10 weeks
of music therapy. (Carr et al., 2011)
●
Improved sleep quality and reduced
anxiety symptoms after five (5) days of group therapy, with music and
progressive relaxation script for half of the participants. (Hernandez-Ruiz, 2005)
●
Reduction in anxiety within-group.
No change in depression or social relationship satisfaction after applying
music therapy for half the participants; variable length of treatment. (Gold et al., 2014)
A pilot study supported by the Health Services
Research & Development under the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
assessed the effectiveness of music therapy on relieving PTSD symptoms,
specifically through a six-week guitar training program under the direction of
seasoned instructors through a partnership with Guitars for Vets. It produced
remarkably positive results, with additional findings suggesting that “music
therapy was effective in reducing depression symptoms and improving
health-related quality of life.” The program has since been successfully taken
up by several VA locations, including the Hampton (Virginia) VA Medical Center.
The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA)
published a white paper in 2014 that explores the
profession of music therapy focusing on active-duty service members and
veterans. It cites the case of Marine Corps Veteran Thad Holloway and
Army Corps Veteran Michael Slatton, who met through the music therapy program
at the Hines VA in Chicago, Illinois, and have been singing together for 20
years as part of a group. Slatton recounted working with someone who was
instrumental in their recovery and rehabilitation through music. “It was one
music therapist who saved my life. Jessie Herndon would come up to my room
twice a week. And I would cuss her out and call her every name, and she knew I
would call her names and argue before she even got up there. But she kept
pushing me, she never gave up. She wanted me to try singing before she even
heard me sing a note.”
Another Chicago veteran overcame PTSD through
music therapy. Air Force Veteran Chris Smith says healthcare helped him “deal with the
anxiety of losing his eyesight” through singing and playing the drums. “You’re
playing, and you’re listening, and you’re paying attention to other things… you
get to work in a space that collaborates. You get to sit and listen to other
people play… and you find the space in that. So you’re really building
something together. It’s not just you.” He adds, “It’s a study in mindfulness,
just the ability to be present. I think singing is a great way, because you
really have to pay attention to what you’re doing. The drum circle, you really
have to listen to the group. It is definitely a group exercise. Stress is the
first thing I noticed that disappears. PTSD is always there. Anxiety is always
there. But I know when I play, my anxiety is significantly less. It’s helped me
be more considerate of other people… we’re all in this together. We’re all
mindful of each other.”
Music therapy’s 70-year history in the U.S.
military covers the entire continuum of care among service members, veterans,
and their families. It is a vital part of treatment currently delivered in
military treatment facilities and VA medical centers across the country,
delivered by board-certified music therapists. The AMTA notes that more music
therapy and credentialed music therapists are needed to keep pace with the
current needs of our military populations.
Live
Music Tutor offers music therapy lessons to active military personnel and veterans
anytime, anywhere. We serve hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing
homes, active adult communities, hospice care, and others. Sign up and schedule
a lesson today.
References
and resources:
● Landis-Shack, N., Heinz, A.
J., & Bonn-Miller, M. O. (2017). Music therapy for posttraumatic stress in
adults: A theoretical review. Psychomusicology: Music, Mind, and Brain,27(4),
334-342. doi:10.1037/pmu0000192 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5744879/
● Young, H., MT-BC, &
Morris, E., MT-BC. (n.d.). U.S. Military, Music Therapy, and Technology:
Strategic Use of Music to Support VA Mission. Retrieved July 29, 2019, from https://www.livemusictutor.com/LMTWhitePaper.pdf
● U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs. (n.d.). Health Services Research & Development. Retrieved from https://www.hsrd.research.va.gov/news/research_news/music-010614.cfm
● American Music Therapy
Association. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.musictherapy.org/research/music_therapy_and_military_populations/
● Friedman, M. J., Schnurr, P.
P., & Mcdonagh-Coyle, A. (1994). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in the
Military Veteran. Psychiatric Clinics of North America,17(2), 265-277.
doi:10.1016/s0193-953x(18)30113-8 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7937358
● DeNora T. Vaillancourt,
Guylaine (2012). Music therapy; A community approach to social justice. The
Arts in Psychotherapy. 2002;39(3):173–178. [Google Scholar]
● American Music Therapy
Association. (n.d.). Music Therapy & Military White Paper Provides Model
Programs and Research Addressing the Myriad Issues Facing Service Members and
Their Families. Retrieved from https://www.musictherapy.org/amta_releases_white_paper_on_music_therapy__military/
● Kunich, G. (2015, October
16). Music therapy provides Veterans with creative outlet. Retrieved from https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/23512/veterans-recover-music-therapy/
● VA care, music therapy help Chicago Veteran overcome PTSD. (2019, May 15). Retrieved from