Adolescents and Young Adults with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Music Therapy: A Qualitative Systematic Review

This study highlights the relevance of music therapy as an integrative approach to addressing post-traumatic stress disorder among adolescents and young people. Objective: To explore the perceptions of adolescents, young adults, and therapists regarding the role of music therapy in the treatment of trauma. Methodology: A qualitative systematic review was conducted, focusing on studies involving adolescents aged 10–19 years (World Health Organization) and young adults aged 20–24 years. The review synthesized music therapy interventions, therapeutic objectives, and main outcomes across diverse populations and settings, both nationally and internationally, and also examined the perceptions of participants, therapists, and researchers regarding music therapy in trauma treatment. A total of 819 titles were identified, with 13 articles included in the review. Findings indicated that music therapy promotes self-expression, rebuilds self-esteem, strengthens social bonds, alleviates anxiety symptoms, and enhances emotional resilience, thereby contributing to post-traumatic growth. Adolescents and young adults emphasized the significance of music therapy as a distinctive therapeutic approach, in which music and musical practice played a central role in achieving the objectives of post-traumatic stress disorder treatment.