Skip to main content

Main menu

  • About Us
    • Leadership
    • Our Team
    • Vision, Mission and Values
    • Health and Economic Impact
    • Strategic Plan
  • Our Research
    • Research Focus
      • Brain Health
      • Cancer
      • Cardiovascular Conditions and Diseases
      • Digital Health
      • Health Policy
      • Immunity and Infectious Diseases
      • Joint Health and Mobility
      • Respiratory and Lung Health
      • Spinal Cord Injury and Rehabilitation
    • Research Centres and Programs
      • BC Centre on Substance Use
      • Centre for Aging SMART
      • Centre for Cardiovascular Innovation
      • Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation
      • Centre for Lung Health
      • Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health
      • Immunity and Infection Research Centre
      • International Collaboration On Repair Discoveries
      • Ovarian Cancer Research Centre
      • Vancouver Prostate Centre
      • Community Research Program
      • Emergency Medicine Research Program
      • Hematology Research Program
      • Skin Research Program
      • Other Research Focus Areas
    • News and Stories
    • Researcher Directory
    • Events and Workshops
  • Research Services
    • New to VCHRI
      • Working at VCHRI
      • Regulations and Training
      • Membership with VCHRI
    • Starting Your Project
      • Research Facilitation
      • Awards and Funding
      • Grant Management
      • Operational Approval
      • CST Cerner
    • Developing Your Project
      • Clinical Trials Administration
      • Clinical Research Unit
      • Research Privacy
      • Financial Policies and Procedures
    • Additional Support
      • Education and Training
      • Communications and Branding
      • Media Relations
      • Study Recruitment Support
      • Innovation and Industry Partnership
    • Internal Awards
    • Clinical Research
    • Innovation and Partnership
  • Participate in Research
    • Reasons to Participate
    • Participant Stories
    • Find a Study
    • Recruitment Support

User menu

  • Log in

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Our Research
  3. News and Stories
  4. Healing harmonies: Using the power of music to connect with psychiatric patients

Healing harmonies: Using the power of music to connect with psychiatric patients

Stories Jan 22, 2017 3 minutes

Patient survey of music therapy in psychiatric setting first of its kind in Canada.

It’s no secret that music can be a powerful emotional connector for people. From lullabies for babies, to dance songs on the radio, music moves people in ways that few other art forms can. For people in psychological distress, music can be a soothing and comforting form of therapy. That’s why Richmond Hospital’s Psychiatric Inpatient Unit makes music therapy available to its patients. Angie Ji, an accredited music therapist at Richmond Hospital, says the unique advantage of music therapy is that it is intrinsically beautiful. 

“Inherent in music are the qualities that can draw people in and engage them. All at once with music you can integrate all levels of the self: body, mind, and spirit. Those musical elements of rhythm and melody can draw someone in at all levels of functioning and create emotional and physiological changes in the body."

Ji and her colleagues offer two types of music therapy sessions to patients: active or receptive. Active therapy means engaging with the music—singing, playing an instrument or moving the body. Receptive therapy may involve just sitting or lying still and listening, which helps patients relax. 

Ji says in the psychiatric setting, music therapy can fill a gap in treatment for severely mentally ill people. These are patients who may be reluctant to take part in other psychiatric interventions such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which require verbal interaction.

“CBT is very effective for some patients, but for others, having to participate in a verbal way can be a barrier,” Ji says. “Music therapy allows patients to engage without having to say anything. They can express themselves and interact in an alternative, non-threatening way. And the beauty of it is they don’t have to talk.” 

Patients to provide feedback 

Ji is currently conducting a patient satisfaction survey in the Richmond Psychiatric Inpatient Unit.  This survey of psychiatric patients will be the first of its kind in Canada to gather input on group music therapy.

Similar studies in the United States have found high levels of satisfaction with music therapy; in fact many patients said they preferred music therapy over other types of programming. Ji hypothesizes the Canadian survey results will be similar. She says she sees the power of music everyday. “I see it in body language and facial expressions. Someone will come in very agitated and distressed. When they listen to the music their body and face will relax and for a short time they will find solace and peace. Patients often tell me they are really looking forward to a music therapy session.”

Ji says the study is not trying to prove that music therapy results in better patient outcomes. “We’re just trying to get a sense of levels of satisfaction at this point. But, I can say that when patients are engaged in services, when they’re feeling more satisfied with treatment, they may feel happier and they’re prone to do better in their recovery.”

Ji hopes that when the survey is completed next year, patients’ input will guide programming decisions and resource allocation and help music therapists improve their work. 

 

Related Articles

Curing sudden deafness needs help from people with and without the condition

Discovering why some patients are unhappy with their hearing aids

Ask an Expert: What happens if I have hearing loss but choose not to wear hearing aids?

Share:

  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • Twitter
  • Email

Related Research Centres/Programs

Community Research Program

Get the latest research headlines in your inbox

Subscribe

Recent News and Stories

Type
Announcement

Investigator Awards 2023 Recipients

Mar 21, 2023 award
Type
Stories

Ask an expert: Is my menstrual pain normal, or could I have endometriosis?

Mar 16, 2023 women, endometriosis, preventative
Type
Stories

Honing in on precision treatments for endometriosis

Mar 14, 2023 genetics, treatment options
See more news

Get updates!

Join our newsletter mailing list to stay up to date on features and releases.

Subscribe

Quick Links

  • News and Stories
  • Careers
  • Events
  • Media Enquiries

Follow Us

  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

© 2023 VCHRI. All rights reserved.

  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy