title: Effects of group songwriting on motivation and readiness for treatment on patients in detoxification: a randomized wait-list effectiveness study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Songwriting is a commonly utilized music therapy technique for clients in substance abuse rehabilitation. For these patients, motivation and readiness for treatment remain two key treatment areas. Moreover, there is a lack of randomized and controlled music therapy studies systematically investigating how group songwrit-ing can affect patients on a detoxification unit.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purposes of this study were to measure the effects of a single group songwriting session on motivation and readiness for treatment and determine emerging themes from patient-composed songs with patients on a detoxification unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (N = 99) were randomized to experimental (posttest only) or wait-list control (pretest only) conditions to provide treatment to all participants in an inclusive single-session design.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant between-group differences in motivation and readiness for treatment, with experimental participants having higher means than control participants. Code categorizations from patients' composed song lyrics concerned "action," "emotions and feelings," "change," "reflection," "admission," and "responsibility."
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From the results of this study, it seems that a single group songwriting session can be an effective intervention concerning motivation and readiness for treatment in patients on a detoxification unit. Implications for clinical practice, suggestions for future research, and limitations are provided.
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Silverman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009146:Music; D009147:Music Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012107:Research Design; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014850:Waiting Lists