Musical interaction in music therapy for depression treatment

Music therapy is efficacious for the treatment of depression. Compared to other psychotherapeutic forms, it allows emergence various modes mutual interaction, thus enabling multiple channels emotional expression and fostering therapeutic alliance. Although musical interaction patterns between client therapist have been regarded as predictors outcome in depression, this has not yet systematically investigated. We aim address gap by analyzing possible linkage features changes depression score. In a clinical trial, digital piano improvisations from 58 Finnish clients their therapists were recorded over 12 sessions music lasting 6 weeks. Subsequently, variety symbolic describing pitch, rhythm, duration, velocity extracted improvisations. observed number relationships client–therapist improvement. Clients with largest improvements displayed higher overall particularly more middle process than beginning end. contrast, lower change score exhibited yielded temporal profiles interaction. The association improvement an inverted U-shaped curve discussed light process-outcome literature.