Substance Use Disorder: Possibility of Using Music Therapy Essay

Summary

The use of music therapy as the means of alleviating certain health issues has become a rather ubiquitous idea in healthcare. In their study, Bourdaghs and Silverman (2020) address the possibility of using music therapy as the tool for promoting the socialization of people with a substance use disorder (SUD). The research aims at finding points of contact between SUD, propensity toward social interactions, and the application of music therapy. To conduct their analysis, the authors have used the quantitative method, namely, a narrative review of the obtained data. The research results have shown that the initial hypothesis was correct and that there was, indeed, a link between the three variables of SUD, social interactions, and music therapy. The authors have concluded that further insights into the issue are needed to construct a framework for addressing SUD.

Analysis

The integration of music therapy into the management of mental health issues provides quite a number of opportunities due to the chance to help a patient to meet their emotional needs. Therefore, the study conducted by Bourdaghs and Silverman (2020) is an important step in improving the current framework for managing SUD. The study benefits largely from the innovative approach that the authors have adopted to the assessment of the issue and the evaluation of the efficacy of the proposed treatment method. However, the research may have suffered from the inclusion of subjective interpretations of data obtained from interviews. The specified bias is a common concern in qualitative research, which could have been addressed with greater care in the research by Bourdaghs and Silverman (2020). Nonetheless, the article has provided vital information about possible improvements in addressing SUD, hinting at the possibility of updating the existing treatment options.

Reference

Bourdaghs, S., & Silverman, M. J. (2020). A neurological rationale for music therapy to address social connectivity among individuals with substance use disorders.The Arts in Psychotherapy, 70. Web.