Music therapy versus cognitive behavioural therapy in reducing substance-use in young adults

Abstract

Substance use disorders (SUD) and comorbid mental health disorders are an intriguing and challenging phenomenon among young adults. The negative labelling that Maltese society seems to place on this population may discourage them from seeking professional help. Treatment options for addictions should adopt a holistic approach. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is the only treatment of choice for SUD recommended by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA). However, various researchers have questioned its effectiveness and desirability. Music therapy can be an alternative, perceived as less threatening and more appealing than CBT. This study's objective and research question were to explore whether music therapy is more effective than CBT in reducing substance-use in young adults. The latter aged 18- 40, were the population of interest (P). Music therapy, was the main intervention of choice (I), CBT was the comparison intervention (C), whereas the outcome was to reduce substance-use (O). A literature review was conducted, and inclusion/exclusion criteria established for age range, sample characteristics (using DSM-IV-TR parameters) study design and year of publication. Only papers meeting level one, two and six criteria in the research hierarchy were chosen for review. 14 studies were finally selected that were critically appraised using mostly CASP tools (1993) and Morrison's approach (1991). Findings demonstrate that music therapy either in groups or individually, has immediate positive benefits over group/individual CBT. These include increased motivation, participation, and establishing trust leading to a reduction in substance-use. Study recommendations include implementing music therapy as an additional resource to professionals working within the addiction/mental health field and funding for music therapy posts and psychiatric nurses undertaking single music therapy sessions. Dissemination strategies are seen as vital to increase awareness of music therapy and establish its efficacy in the local context.