Application of receptive music therapy in internal medicine and cardiology.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of receptive music therapy in clinical practice.


METHODS
Receptive music therapy was individually applied via musical auditions, including five stages: musical stimulation, sensation, situation, reflection, and behavioral alteration. Following anamnesis and obtainment of consent, patients answered a first questionnaire on health risk evaluation (Q1), and after participating in 16 weekly music therapy sessions, answered a second one (Q2).


RESULTS
Two men and 8 women, aged above 18 years, referred to us due to symptoms of stress, emotional suffering, and the need to change lifestyles (health risk behavior) were studied between August 1998 and December 1999. Comparison between answers to Q1 and Q2, showed a trend (P=0.059) for reduction of ingestion of cholesterol-rich foods and for increased prospects in life with a tendency towards improvement, and also of increased intake of fiber-rich food (55.6%), increased levels of personal satisfaction (44.5%), and decreased levels of stress (66.7%).


CONCLUSIONS
The study demonstrated decreased stress levels and increased personal satisfaction, higher consumption of fiber-rich food, lower cholesterol intake, and a better perspective on life, suggesting that receptive music therapy may be applied in clinical practice as an auxiliary therapeutic intervention for the treatment of behavioral health risks.
Marconato
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C
Faculdade de Artes do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
Munhoz
E C
EC
Menim
M M
MM
Albach
M T
MT
D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009147:Music Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D012309:Risk-Taking