Independent skills practice between music therapy sessions linked to fewer symptoms in TBI/PTSD patients
Photo by Adrià Crehuet Cano / Unsplash
Key Takeaway
Consider that independent skills practice between music therapy sessions may be associated with fewer symptoms in TBI/PTSD patients, but evidence is preliminary.
This retrospective observational analysis examined military-connected individuals with traumatic brain injury and/or post-traumatic stress disorder who participated in music therapy sessions. The study investigated the association between recommending independent skills practice (homework) between sessions and patient-reported symptoms, with no reported comparator group.
The main finding was that patients who had more sessions with recommended independent skills practice reported fewer symptoms in the following session and at discharge. No specific effect sizes, absolute numbers, p-values, or confidence intervals were reported for these results.
Safety and tolerability were not reported; no adverse events, serious adverse events, or discontinuations were noted. Key limitations include the retrospective and correlational design, the absence of a randomized controlled trial, and an unreported sample size.
Practice relevance suggests that recommending independent skills practice aligned with treatment goals could potentially be linked to a more beneficial therapeutic process. However, the evidence is preliminary and correlational, and stronger randomized-controlled trials are needed. Causation and generalizability beyond military-connected individuals with TBI/PTSD should not be overstated.
More on Traumatic Brain Injury
Case report review suggests LAI paliperidone stabilizes behavior in a 9-year-old with TBI over two years
Long-acting shots help a boy control severe brain injury rage
This case report review describes a 9-year-old boy with severe traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic confusional state treated with long-…
A boy with severe brain injury rage found calm after months of failed pills, showing long-acting shots could help when daily medicine fails
Machine learning model predicts functional status in patients with traumatic brain injury, intracerebral hemorrhage, or aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
New tool uses liver blood work to predict brain injury.
This retrospective cohort study developed a machine learning model using liver function markers and other features to predict functional sta…
A new computer model uses liver blood tests to predict how well brain injury patients will recover after surgery.
Protocol for COMPASS CBT pilot trial in forcibly displaced Venezuelan adults in Peru
First pilot trial tests new therapy for displaced Venezuelans in Peru
This protocol outlines a randomized pilot trial evaluating COMPASS, an open-source cognitive behavioral therapy program delivered by lay pro…
A new pilot trial will test a low-cost therapy for anxiety, depression, and PTSD in forcibly displaced Venezuelans living in Peru.
Uncensored traumatic video exposure linked to higher PTSD severity in post-October 7 cohort
Watching Trauma Videos May Increase PTSD Risk
This cohort study examined a large group of individuals in the first months following the October 7 events, none directly exposed. Around 24…
Seeing graphic trauma online can trigger stress even if you were safe.
View Original Abstract ↓
IntroductionTherapeutic disciplines have researched the use of independent skills practice (i.e., homework) and its impact on patient outcomes, but research on this topic in music therapy has been limited and contradictory.MethodsThis retrospective, exploratory study used a correlational approach to explore the use of recommending independent skills practice between music therapy sessions for military-connected individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and/or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Board–certified music therapists (MT-BCs) developed a standardized templated note (i.e., a standardized clinical documentation form) that tracked patient care outcomes of military-connected individuals across treatment. Relevant to this paper, the template captured the number of patient-reported symptoms for each session and if the MT-BCs recommended independent skills practices (i.e., homework) for the patient to apply outside of sessions. If MT-BCs recommended independent skills practice, they recorded the goal-based skill the practice addressed.ResultsThis paper found that patients who had more sessions wherein MT-BCs recommended independent skills practice reported fewer symptoms both in the following session and at discharge. This paper also provides examples of independent skills practice recommendations and found that 80% were related to either treatment or life conditions. Although this study is retrospective and correlational, it provides preliminary evidence that recommending independent skills practice that is aligned with treatment goals for patients to complete between music therapy sessions could potentially be linked to a more beneficial therapeutic process.DiscussionThis paper discusses purposeful methods for independent skills practice and their impact on music therapy treatment for military-connected populations with TBI and/or PTSD. However, stronger, randomized-controlled trials are needed.
Intravenous tenecteplase improves functional outcomes but increases hemorrhage risk in non-large vessel occlusion acute ischemic stroke.
Tenecteplase improves stroke recovery but increases bleeding risk in late treatment window
Related in Neurology
Neck muscle vibration improves neglect symptoms in right-hemispheric stroke patients
Vibrating neck muscles help stroke patients ignore the empty side of their vision
This randomized clinical trial enrolled 20 patients with right-hemispheric stroke and unilateral spatial neglect. The active neck muscle vib…
A small trial found that vibrating neck muscles helped stroke patients improve their ability to see on the side they missed.
Aerobic and strength training reduce fatigue in multiple sclerosis patients
Aerobic or strength training eases MS fatigue, trial finds
This randomized effectiveness trial in 62 persons with multiple sclerosis and fatigue found that 8 weeks of aerobic training, strength train…
A small trial finds that aerobic and strength training each reduce fatigue in MS, with no clear winner among exercise types.
Modified CIMT with trunk restraint improves function in chronic stroke patients
Six weeks of tailored therapy improved function and quality of life for chronic stroke patients.
A single-blinded RCT in 34 chronic stroke patients found that adding patient-tailored modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) w…
Thirty-four people with long-term stroke saw better movement and balance after six weeks of a specific therapy mix compared to standard care…
Laughter yoga reduced fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis in a randomized controlled trial
Laughter Yoga Cuts Fatigue And Improves Sleep For Multiple Sclerosis Patients
This randomized controlled trial enrolled 42 people with multiple sclerosis. Participants in the intervention group received 12 sessions of …
People with multiple sclerosis who practiced laughter yoga reported less tiredness and better sleep after just twelve sessions.
From Other Specialties
Meta-analysis links baseline and dynamic ctDNA to survival in advanced NSCLC
ctDNA in blood predicts survival in advanced lung cancer
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 43 studies found that detectable or elevated baseline plasma ctDNA was associated with worse ove…
A blood test for tumor DNA can predict survival in advanced lung cancer, helping guide treatment decisions.
Meta-analysis shows platinum-etoposide plus PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor improves survival in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer
Adding PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitors improves survival for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer
This meta-analysis of phase III trials evaluated platinum-etoposide combined with a PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor versus platinum-etoposide alone …
Adding a PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor to standard chemotherapy improves survival for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer without increasing se…
Systematic review and meta-analysis shows immune checkpoint inhibitors improve survival in first-line ES-SCLC but not as single agents in second-line
Immune drugs boost survival in small-cell lung cancer
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone for ext…
Adding immune checkpoint inhibitors to chemotherapy helps patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer live longer.
Network meta-analysis of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 regimens in advanced non-squamous NSCLC without EGFR or ALK alterations
New drugs beat old ones for advanced lung cancer survival
This systematic review and network meta-analysis evaluated overall survival and progression-free survival across 15 Phase III randomized cli…
New drug combinations show better survival chances for advanced lung cancer patients whether their tumors express PD-L1 or not