Music therapy for addicted patients

Journal/Book: Musiktherapeutische Umschau. 1989; 10: Stuttgart. G. Fischer Verlag. 17-32.

Abstract: Music therapy with addicted patients is as a consequence of the complex perception of music represented as a wide therapeutic process, in which analytic-psychological, emotional-therapeutic, psycho-physical, behaviouristic-therapeutic and cultural socio-critical approaches intertwine. This working method meets the complexity of human perception, the musical event and the addiction. A two-year project in a special clinic for addicts validates this musico-therapeutic approach which goes beyond psychotherapeutic schools and takes into account the complex perception of music. On addition the project yielded the thesis that receptive music therapy is contraindicated for addicted patients. Making music actively prevents the patients from reactivation patterns of addicted behaviour in music. A further thesis for the therapeutic setting: music therapy is in no case an accompanying or special therapy but has to be conveyed as a central part of group therapy.

Keyword(s): Case-study, long-term-therapy, in-patient, special-clinic.

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