A therapeutic songwriting intervention to promote reconstruction of self-concept and enhance well-being following brain or spinal cord injury: pilot randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: To determine the size of the effects and feasibility (recruitment and retention rates) of a therapeutic songwriting protocol for in-patients and community-dwelling people with acquired brain injury or spinal cord injury. Design: Randomized controlled trial with songwriting intervention and care-as-usual control groups, in a mixed measures design assessed at three time points. Participants: A total of 47 participants (3 in-patients with acquired brain injury, 20 community participants with acquired brain injury, 12 in-patients with spinal cord injury, and 12 community participants with spinal cord injury: 23 1208 days post injury). Interventions: The intervention group received a 12-session identity-targeted songwriting programme, where participants created three songs reflecting on perceptions of past, present, and future self. Control participants received care as usual. Measures: Baseline, postintervention, and follow-up measures comprised the Head Injury Semantic Differential Scale (primary outcome measure), Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. Results: No significant between group pre–post intervention differences were found on the primary self-concept measure, the Head Injury Semantic Differential Scale (p = 0.38, d = 0.44). Significant and large effect sizes from baseline to post between groups in favour of the songwriting group for Satisfaction with Life (p = 0.04, n2p = 0.14). There were no significant between group pre-post interaction effects for the Emotion Regulation Suppression subscale (p = 0.12, n2p = –0.08) although scores decreased in the songwriting group over time while increasing for the standard care group. There were no significant differences in baseline to follow-up between groups in any other outcome measures. Recruitment was challenging due to the small number of people eligible to participate combined with poor uptake by eligible participants, particularly the in-patient group. Retention rates were higher for the community-dwelling cohorts. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the challenges in recruitment and retention of participants invited to participate in a music therapy study. Findings suggest this identity-focused therapeutic songwriting protocols may be more beneficial for people who have transitioned from in-patient to community-contexts given the greater proportion of participants who consent and complete the intervention. Preliminary effects in favour of the intervention group were detected in a range of well-being measures suggesting that a larger study is warranted.

Experiences of group therapeutic songwriting of family caregivers of people with dementia

“…On the other hand, it is known that the method of therapeutic songwriting provides improvements in well-being in different types of clinical populations, for instance, in a retirement community (Baker & Ballantyne, 2013), in people with brain and spinal cord injuries (Baker, Rickard, Tamplin, & Roddy, 2015; Baker et al, 2019), or in young people (Baker, Jeanneret, & Clarkson, 2018). The results presented here reinforce the studies mentioned above, as the GTSW experience has provided greater well-being and mood improvements in FCGs.…”

“…This therapeutic intervention is practiced worldwide by music therapists (Baker, Wigram, Stott, & McFerran, 2008) and has specific theoretical approaches (Baker, 2016, 2017; Myers-Coffman, Baker, & Bradt, 2020; Tamplin, Baker, Macdonald, Roddy, & Rickard, 2016). Emerging literature suggests that collaborative songwriting applied in different clinical populations stimulates feelings of connection, belonging, and group cohesion (Baker & Stretton-Smith, 2018), promotes well-being (Baker & Ballantyne, 2013; Baker, Jeanneret, & Clarkson, 2018; Baker et al, 2019), and favors health and quality of life (Grocke, Bloch, & Castle, 2009).…”

Effects of neurological music therapy on behavioural and emotional recovery after traumatic brain injury: A randomized controlled cross-over trial

“…Studies using heterogeneous samples have revealed a similar pattern of results. Baker et al (2019) (RCT with acquired brain injury or spinal cord injury, n = 47) found that song writing intervention improved significantly life satisfaction (Baker et al, 2019), and their earlier study (Baker et al, 2015) (acquired brain injury including TBI or spinal cord injury, n = 10) suggested that song-writing programme could support emotional adjustment after injury. (Baker et al, 2015) Nayak et al (stroke and TBI, n = 18) reported a trend towards improvement in self-and family-reported mood following a music therapy intervention in acute rehabilitation setting (Nayak et al, 2000).…”

Does Music Therapy Improve Gait after Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury? A Mini Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Another limitation of our review is that we did not include studies that investigated the effects of MT on cognitive and psychological outcomes in individuals with TBI and SCI, as they fell outside the scope of our research question. Although several studies have reported the positive effects of MT on these outcomes [ 90 , 91 , 92 ], we were unable to evaluate them in our review. However, we suggest that future systematic reviews be conducted to establish the current state of evidence regarding the impact of MT on cognitive and psychological outcomes in individuals with TBI and SCI.…”