Effectiveness of Music Therapy

Music is composed of sounds intertwined with melody and rhythm that can have powerful effects on a person. It can help people focus on tasks or calm the mind. Research has shown that music has beneficial effects on the mind, body, and health of a person. A journal article by Rastogi, Solanki, and Zafar (2013) refers, on the contrary, to:

‘Controlled use of music and its influence on the human being in physiological, psychological, and emotional integration of the individual during treatment of an illness or disability’.

Those who oppose music therapy believe it does not work, especially for in the long term, and that drugs are more efficient and show faster results. Despite those who are against it, music therapy has become very popular over the years and it is common for higher class people to form organizations and clubs for their support of music therapy. In the journal article by Rastogi et al. (2013), they note the importance of music therapy and its approach to the biopsychosocial perspectives as a treatment for psychological disorders: “The research done so far establishes this fact with clarity that music is certainly more than just an entertainment entity or cultural phenomenon and places it forth strongly as a therapeutic tool in the treatment of psychiatric disorders.” The effects of music therapy can decrease the harm caused from the biological side-effects of drugs, decrease psychological distress and increase social activity and awareness for people with a disorder. All of these effects suggest that music can effectively treat psychological disorders as well as anxiety and depression. Although music therapy is not widely practiced, it continues to be supported and grow around the nation with regards to its advantag...

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...tral.com/news/2008/01/23/music-therapy-beneficial-for-depression/1823.html.

Rastogi, R., Solanki, S., & Zafar, M. (2013). Music as a Therapy: Role in Psychiatry. Asian Journal of Psychiatry,6(3), 193-199.

Scott, E. (2011, October 27). Music and Your Body: How Music Affects Us and Why Music Therapy Promotes Health.About.com Stress Management. Retrieved November 17, 2013. From http://stress.about.com/od/tensiontamers/a/music_therapy.htm.

Tyrrell, M. (2001, n.d.). Depression - Understand it, Treat it, Beat it.Depression - Understand it, Treat it, Beat it. Retrieved November 17, 2013. From http://www.clinical-depression.co.uk.

Wellington, T. (2010, July 17). How Music Therapy Can Help Eliminate Anxiety and Panic Attacks. Ezinearticles. Retrieved November 17, 2013. From http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Music-Therapy-Can-Help-Eliminate-Anxiety-and-Panic-Attacks&id=4686375.