Merete Holme: Music therapy for adolescents with emotional challenges

Field of study: Music Therapy

Worldwide depression is among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents and is a major cause of disability-adjusted life years among adolescents globally (WHO). There are moderate effects of standard recommended treatment with different types of psychotherapy and possibly the addition of drugs. More than 50 % of adolescents referred to specialist mental health care in Norwegian services have depressive thoughts or symptoms as a reason for referral. A large proportion of these adolescents are diagnosed with emotional difficulties like depression alone or in combination with others like anxiety. There are moderate effects of standard recommended treatment with different types of psychotherapy and possibly the addition of drugs.

Music Therapy

This PhD-study is a clinical study conducted at an outpatient clinic in Child and Adolescents Psychiatry in Oslo for adolescents 14-18 years with emotional difficulties, like depression and possibly additional difficulties. The music therapy is given in addition to standard treatment offered and will include both “active” and “receptive” music therapy, with additional home exercises, in a 10-week program. The study can serve as a basis for future randomized controlled studies on this intervention, which might fill an important gap in clinical studies.

The study investigates whether music therapy can provide significant individual improvements in depressive symptoms, emotional regulation, reduction of accompanying difficulties, enhancements in quality of life and daily functioning. Secondary objectives of this mixed methods study assesses the feasibility, fidelity and acceptability of a music therapy program applied to this group of adolescents. After the music therapy, interviews with of a subgroup of participants will be performed to explore further possible ways by which music can improve emotional and functioning in this group of adolescents, exploring both its relevance within the clinical seVng and its broader impact on an adolescent´s everyday life.

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Merete Holme is trained as a Music Therapist and has long experience in the field of mental health care for adolescents. Throughout her career, she has worked in both acute care setting from Oslo University Hospital; Acute inpatient treatment unit (UPA) and community-based programs in Oslo. Her educational background spans sociology, psychology, and music.