Professional and Patient Attitudes about the Relevance of Music Therapy as a Treatment Modality in NAMT Approved Psychiatric Hospitals

This study investigated mental health professionals' and patients' attitudes regarding the perceived relevance of the music therapy treatment modality. The study focused on attitudinal differences among interdisciplinary team members and also on those between staff and patients regarding their views of music therapy's role, strengths, and weaknesses. In addition, the study investigated whether music therapists' attitudes and expectations matched those of other professionals, whether the psychiatric hospital was a practical setting in which to address music therapy treatment goals and issues, and how music therapists felt about their positions. The “music therapists' job satisfaction” category included areas such as job respect, job recognition, salary competency and educational components, and professional credentials. Survey forms were mailed to 18 music therapy clinical training directors who were willing to distribute them to psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, social workers, rehabilitation therapists, nursing staff, and patients in NAMT approved psychiatric facilities, or to subjects directly, when the training director provided individual staff names from his or her hospital. Music therapist survey forms were sent to music therapists whose names were listed in inpatient psychiatric units in the 1995 NAMT membership sourcebook. Most health care professionals reported a positive image about the music therapy profession and music therapists, although significant differences existed among the various subject classes' perceptions. Psychiatrists viewed music therapy as less than essential therapeutic intervention. Psychologists and social workers responded less positively to treatment goals that they considered to be in “their” treatment areas, but they valued music therapy primarily for therapeutic recreation. Staff members who have observed music therapy sessions valued music therapy services more highly than staff who had not made such observations. Patients valued music therapy treatment fess than other professionals. Music therapists rated music therapy services as having a higher treatment value than other disciplines, including rehabilitation therapy.