Resource-Oriented Music Therapy for Adults with Autoimmune Disease and Mood Disorders

Up to 50 million individuals in the United States are currently living with autoimmune diseases (AD). ADs can affect multiple systems in the body and impact the daily life and mental health of those living with ADs. While there are several pharmacological treatments that improve symptoms, many individuals, often women, remain underdiagnosed and have a high occurrence of mood disorders. Since music therapy has been shown to have a positive impact on individuals with mood disorders, it may be effective for adults with AD who have mood disorders, particularly when a resourceoriented approach is utilized. This study will outline the clinical treatment protocol used within the context of a feasibility study. This research will present the overall clinical approach and music therapy interventions. It is our hope that these descriptions and reports may be useful to other clinicians supporting adults with ADs. Limitations and suggestions for future research and clinical practice will also be discussed.