In this trial, the researchers examined the effect on refugees' trauma symptoms by comparing traditional psychological therapy and the music therapy method ¡®trauma-focused music and imagery'. The method involves guiding participants to generate inner imagery by listening to music, both Western classical music, new age music, and music from the participants¡¯ own national culture.

The researchers found that the music therapeutic method is as effective as traditional psychological therapy. The music helped to create positive mental conditions and to regulate arousal during recall of trauma experiences. At the same time, the researchers only saw a dropout rate of 5% with the music therapeutic method, while with traditional psychological treatment they experienced that 40% of the participants dropped out along the way.

The researchers conclude that ¡®trauma-focused music and imagery¡¯ is an innovative psychological treatment for refugees with symptoms of PTSD.

Read more:?https://vbn.aau.dk/da/publications/music-therapy-was-noninferior-to-verbal-standard-treatment-of-tra