TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of neurological music therapy on behavioural and emotional recovery after traumatic brain injury
T2 - A randomized controlled cross-over trial
AU - Siponkoski, Sini-Tuuli
AU - Koskinen, Sanna
AU - Laitinen, Sari
AU - Holma, Milla
AU - Ahlfors, Mirja
AU - Jordan-Kilkki, Päivi
AU - Ala-Kauhaluoma, Katja
AU - Martinez Molina, Noelia
AU - Melkas, Susanna
AU - Laine, Matti
AU - Ylinen, Aarne
AU - Zasler, Nathan
AU - Rantanen, Pekka
AU - Lipsanen, Jari
AU - Särkämö, Teppo
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes deficits in executive function (EF), as well as problems in behavioural and emotional self-regulation. Neurological music therapy may aid these aspects of recovery. We performed a cross-over randomized controlled trial where 40 persons with moderate-severe TBI received a 3-month neurological music therapy intervention (2 times/week, 60 min/session), either during the first (AB, n = 20) or second (BA, n = 20) half of a 6-month follow-up period. The evidence from this RCT previously demonstrated that music therapy enhanced general EF and set shifting. In the current study, outcome was assessed with self-report and caregiver-report questionnaires performed at baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 18-month stages. The results showed that the self-reported Behavioural Regulation Index of the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF-A) improved more in the AB than BA group from baseline to 3-month stage and the effect was maintained in the 6-month follow-up. No changes in mood or quality of life questionnaires were observed. However, a qualitative content analysis of the feedback revealed that many participants experienced the intervention as helpful in terms of emotional well-being and activity. Our results suggest that music therapy has a positive effect on everyday behavioural regulation skills after TBI.
AB - Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes deficits in executive function (EF), as well as problems in behavioural and emotional self-regulation. Neurological music therapy may aid these aspects of recovery. We performed a cross-over randomized controlled trial where 40 persons with moderate-severe TBI received a 3-month neurological music therapy intervention (2 times/week, 60 min/session), either during the first (AB, n = 20) or second (BA, n = 20) half of a 6-month follow-up period. The evidence from this RCT previously demonstrated that music therapy enhanced general EF and set shifting. In the current study, outcome was assessed with self-report and caregiver-report questionnaires performed at baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 18-month stages. The results showed that the self-reported Behavioural Regulation Index of the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF-A) improved more in the AB than BA group from baseline to 3-month stage and the effect was maintained in the 6-month follow-up. No changes in mood or quality of life questionnaires were observed. However, a qualitative content analysis of the feedback revealed that many participants experienced the intervention as helpful in terms of emotional well-being and activity. Our results suggest that music therapy has a positive effect on everyday behavioural regulation skills after TBI.
KW - Behavioural regulation
KW - Executive functioning
KW - Music therapy
KW - Randomized controlled trial
KW - Traumatic brain injury
KW - 515 Psychology
KW - 3112 Neurosciences
U2 - 10.1080/09602011.2021.1890138
DO - 10.1080/09602011.2021.1890138
M3 - Article
SN - 0960-2011
VL - 32
JO - Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
JF - Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
IS - 7
ER -