Music therapy for improving mental health problems of offenders in correctional settings: systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

This is a protocol for a systematic review of the effects of music therapy on offenders. Based on randomised controlled trials, the review aims to assess the effectiveness of music therapy on adolescent and adult offenders in custodial institutions including forensic psychiatric hospitals, and offenders or probationers in the community. The outcomes to be evaluated include alleviated symptoms of mental illness, psychosocial competencies and reduced recidivism.Note: This protocol was developed with and for the Cochrane Collaboration in 2012-2013, but was not published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Co-author H.L. died in 2014 and the remaining authors would like to acknowledge her contribution. She did approve the current version of the text in 2013.

Group Music Therapy as a Preventive Intervention for Young People at Risk: Cluster-Randomized Trial

“…Since music forms an important part of the lives and identities of adolescents, it can provide a means for meaningful interaction and communication and holds potential for therapeutic interventions that will appeal to young people. Music therapy has been found effective among adults with mental disorders (Erkkilä et al, 2011;Gold, Solli, Krüger, & Lie, 2009;Maratos, Gold, Wang, & Crawford, 2008;Mössler, Chen, Heldal, & Gold, 2011) and in marginalized groups at risk of poor mental health (Chen, Leith, Aarø, Manger, & Gold, 2016;Schwantes, McKinney, & Hannibal, 2014). Fewer researchers have focused on adolescents specifically, yet evidence suggests some effectiveness for adolescents with various psychopathologies (Albornoz, 2011;Gold, Voracek, & Wigram, 2004).…”

Mad Studies and Mad-Positive Music

“…Music is broadly linked to the moral hygiene of the population (Baker & Bor, ). Music may alleviate individuals’ distress, anxiety and depression (Chen, ; Chen, Hannibal & Gold, ; Choi, Lee, & Lim, ) and severe mental illness (Grocke, Bloch, Castle, Thompson, Newton, Stewart, & Gold, ). Yet, there is little critical examination of music as disciplinary and regulatory tool aimed at conditioning behavior in relation to discourses of relaxation, therapy, and resilience (Spelman, ).…”

Group cognitive analytic music therapy: a quasi-experimental feasibility study conducted in a high secure hospital

“…Outcomes were significantly improved for those receiving MT for negative and positive symptoms, regardless of total treatment duration or number/frequency of sessions. Chen, Leith, Aarø, Manger and Gold (2016) completed a meta-analysis of MT for offenders in correctional settings. MT (regardless of theoretical orientation) was effective in promoting self-esteem (Hedges' g = 0.55) and social functioning (Hedges' g = 0.35), with anxiety and depression outcomes dependent on length of treatment.…”