An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of an Improvisational Music Therapy Program for Cancer Patients

Abstract

This paper highlights a number of key benefits connected with music therapy for patients with cancer and the effectiveness of IPA in applied health psychology research.

Fostering Creative Ecologies in Australasian Secondary Schools

“…Participant interviews and transcripts were completed by the lead researcher. The text was firstly open-coded through an 'immersion approach' that established preliminary interpretations (Pothoulaki, MacDonald, and Flowers, 2012). Multiple readings accompanied by general note taking summarised chunks of data into initial groupings, key words and phrases were then extracted (Pothoulaki, MacDonald, & Flowers, 2012) and refined into four 'distinctive categories of experience' (Nixon et al 2013, p. 217).…”

Musical improvisation and health: a review

“…Therapy involving musical improvisation has been studied in application to a wide range of groups and conditions, including patients in rehabilitation from neurological damage (Aigen 2009;Pavlicevic and Ansdell 2004); patients with substance use disorders (Albornoz 2011); cancer patients (Burns et al 2001;Pothoulaki et al 2012); patients in palliative care (Hartley 2000); adults with mental health conditions (Erkkilä et al 2011;Gold et al 2013;Pavlicevic 1997); and children or young people with disorders including autistic spectrum disorders (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and eating disorders (Geretsegger et al 2012;Kim et al 2008Kim et al , 2009Rickson 2006;Simpson and Keen 2011;Justice 1994). …”

“…For instance improvements in biological measures of these symptoms have been measured in cancer patients following group sessions of improvisational music therapy; cancer patients have also reported these benefits from music therapy in interviews, pointing specifically to aspects of their experience of improvisation (Burns et al 2001;Pothoulaki et al 2012;Logis 2011). Amelioration of the symptoms of depressed patients, including feelings of guilt, shame or despair has also been observed following participation in improvisation (Albornoz 2011).…”

“…However, improvisation in the course of therapy has been found to help individuals with anxiety and depression to perceive and maintain a more positive identity or sense of self (Erkkilä et al 2012). Enhanced self-esteem, self-confidence, self-awareness or emotional wellbeing in individuals following improvisational music therapy have all been pointed to as indicators of improved wellbeing (Oldfield 2006;Pavlicevic and Ansdell 2004;Pothoulaki et al 2012;Ruud 2010;Solli 2008;Magee 2007).…”

“…Yet it is a feature of many applications of music that are seen as having health benefits. For example improvisation facilitates the crucial clinical relationship between a therapist and a client within Creative Music Therapy approaches (Trondalen and Bonde 2012) and an improvised music intervention has been found beneficial to patients in a cancer ward (Pothoulaki et al 2012). Improvisation is however itself a complex phenomenon with unique psychological features (MacDonald and Wilson in press).…”