Introduction and background information

My topic came from a more broad concept which is “Mental Health and Music”. Instead of doing that, I wanted to talk specifically about music therapy and personality disorder. As someone who is studying music at the moment along with psychology in the future, I wanted to learn about music therapy and its effects. I chose personality disorders to focus on because since I’ve been going to weekly therapist sessions and psychiatrist, I have been told that I have symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder.

Topic and research questions

• How can music therapy influence individuals with personality disorders?
• What are positive & negative effects of music therapy on those with personality disorders?
• Do different personality disorders have different outcomes from music therapy?
• How can music therapy influence communication in those with personality disorders?

Focus

My inquiry area is “Music Therapy and Personality Disorders.” I want to know how music therapy plays a factor in the treatment or coping of  personality disorders.

Rationale

I know that music therapy is beneficial to those with depression but I never hear much about its effects on personality disorders. Personality disorders are harder to manage as a majority of people with them being closed off people who may not know how to communicate well, perhaps they can express themselves through music therapy. 

Methods

As I begin my research, I’ll try to keep an open mind to anything I may find. I’ll use anything that is relevant to my research. This refers to peer-reviewed articles that explain negative, positive, or neutral (no effect at all) aspects between music therapy and personality disorders.

Music Therapy and Personality Disorders

Music therapy, first noted as a possible form of treatment in the 1900’s, can be defined as a form of treatment that includes music and music elements to help patients with their physical, psychological, and/or social needs. The music that is usually used is based on personal preferences of each individual. Though there have been many studies involving the influence of music therapy on popular mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety, many rarely hear about its impact on tougher conditions such as personality disorders. CrashCourse, an educational YouTube channel created by the Green Brothers, Hank Green and John Green, describes personality disorders as “psychological disorders marked by inflexible, disruptive, and enduring behavior patterns that impair social and other functioning-whether the sufferer recognizes that or not”. Examples of personality disorders include Borderline Personality Disorder, Antisocial Personality Disorder, and Avoidant Personality Disorder. There are 2 case studies that are going to be covered in this paper, being the case of Linda, 17 and Nina, 40 which improved their control of their emotions. Given a personality disorder’s complex nature, music therapy can be used to improve communication and symptoms but may also create complications for others.

Those diagnosed with personality disorders often suffer from trauma, such as abuse (can be sexual, physical or emotional), abandonment issues, and extreme emotions which can make it difficult to communicate. Because of this, music therapy may allow those with personality disorders to communicate healthily without speaking. An example of this can be seen with Linda, a 17-year-old girl who was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and has suffered from rape, suicide attempts, hospitalization, trauma, and abuse from her mother growing up. Linda was then admitted to music therapy sessions where the goal was to manage her emotions and impulses.  (Bruscia, K. E. (2012). Case examples of music therapy for personality disorders. Barcelona Pub. pgs 37-46). Throughout these sessions, which were split up into 3 phases, Linda would create songs that relate to and describe her feelings and experiences through the use of lyrics and melodies. As a result of music therapy, Linda who could once be described as aggressive and closed off, can now build relationships without fear of separation and abandonment. Melodies and songs allowed her to communicate and expand on her experiences. Another example is a 40-year-old woman who goes by Nina who was diagnosed with personality disorder not otherwise specified (PD-NOS) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Along with this, she came from a high-achieving family and suffers from depression, anxiety, and past abuse from her father. After trying group therapy, Nina was unsuccessful and eventually was admitted to individual music therapy where she explored musical parameters, percussion instruments such as djembe and drums, and practiced using her voice and the piano. (van Sprang, I., & Haeyen, S. (2024a). Music therapy for therapeutic development in personality disorders: A qualitative case study. Journal of Clinical Psychology.) Similar to Linda, Nina was able to manage her intense emotions and social interactions and break out of her shell. Because of music therapy, Nina was able to be challenged and encouraged by allowing herself to communicate, establish boundaries within her relationships, and being able to take an initiative role in her life while simultaneously being supported and heard by her therapist.

In addition to enhancing communication, music therapy promotes relaxation, comfort,  and higher self-esteem in people with personality disorders. Music therapy can assist clients in developing relaxation skills that can be used before, during, or after demanding situations (Peralta, L. (2024, February 1) Understanding the psychology and benefits of music therapy. Save The Music Foundation.). Relaxation and comfort can derive from different music genres such as musical theater and rap, or more complex genres like jazz and classical music, as those with personality disorders are more likely to steer towards genres, songs, and elements that create more emotional depth. This is demonstrated by both Nina and Linda’s experiences with music therapy. Linda was able to control her rage and found comfort in many songs, more specifically her rendition of “Maybe” from Annie the Musical. Nina found confidence in her voice (in both speaking and singing) and discovered that certain musical elements, such as repeating musical motifs and switching between a C and  F chord, created a calming effect. In these examples, music elements are connected to emotions. This results in a positive mindset and healthy behaviors, which is especially beneficial for people with personality disorders, who are characterized by unstable behavior and low self-esteem.

While music therapy has beneficial uses for those with personality disorders, it may not be for everyone as it can evoke negative emotions such as anxiety and overstimulation when in group settings. Performing in groups or improvising may cause self-consciousness or trigger traumatic or long-buried memories. (Hiller, J., & Gardstrom, S. C. (2019, March 11). Warning: Music therapy comes with risks. OUPblog.). To add on, fear and dread can be triggered because of the strong emotions that come from playing or listening to music along with the many objects in the room that can be used as self-harm devices. (Edwards, J. (2017). The Oxford Handbook of Music Therapy. Oxford University Press. pg. 328). Although this is true, individual music therapy is always an option. Due to the complex emotions and behaviors that are associated with personality disorders, group music therapy can make individuals feel trapped, isolated, or restricted. Individual music therapy allows individuals to let go and express themselves freely without judgment from other patients. Along with this, music therapy also has different methods that people can choose from: receptive, re-creative, improvisation, and composition. The receptive method involves simply listening to music or at times, discussing themes and emotions in songs. The re-creative method includes recreating existing music, such as singing a favorite song. Finally, improvisation and composition involve creating melodies and rhythms (improvisation) or creating songs and sharing one word to fill-in-the-blank to popular songs (composition) (Roche, Meghan. “Four Methods of Music Therapy.” Wholistic Music Therapy, Wholistic Music Therapy, 18 Aug. 2021). Trying out each method can also be ideal to figuring out which form works best for each individual.

In conclusion, music therapy is a topic that is gaining ongoing research, being that it is a newer form of treatment. There are aspects that show that it may offer a promising avenue for individuals diagnosed with personality disorders, a group often overlooked in discussions of therapeutic interventions while simultaneously have aspects that show that there are  potential challenges and limitations of music therapy, particularly in group settings where individuals may experience anxiety or overstimulation. Individualized approaches to music therapy are most beneficial, as they provide a safe space for individuals to explore and confront their intense emotions without fear of judgment or triggers. The case studies of Linda and Nina portray the power of music therapy as it demonstrates their process of becoming better and strong-minded individuals. By providing a non-verbal outlet for expression, music therapy enables individuals to navigate the complexities of their emotions and experiences, fostering healthier patterns of communication and interaction. Specifically in Nina’s case study, it portrayed her feelings towards group therapy. Overall, music therapy is a treatment that is subjective and unique to each individual within the complex world of personality disorders.

Works Cited 

 Bruscia, K. E. (2012). Case examples of music therapy for personality disorders. Barcelona Pub. pg 37-46                                                          https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/ccny-ebooks/reader.action?pq-origsite=primo&ppg=37&docID=3117646 

Van Sprang, I., & Haeyen, S. (2024a). Music therapy for therapeutic development in personality disorders: A qualitative case study. Journal of Clinical Psychology. https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/doi/epdf/10.1002/jclp.23682

Edwards, J. (2017). The Oxford Handbook of Music Therapy. Oxford University Press. pg. 328 ProQuest Ebook Central – Reader

CrashCourse. Personality disorders: Crash course psychology #34. YouTube. (2014, October 14). https://youtu.be/4E1JiDFxFGk?si=1kkws8dAHlfSOyAe

Hiller, J., & Gardstrom, S. C. (2019, March 11). Warning: Music therapy comes with risks. OUPblog.  Warning: music therapy comes with risks | OUPblog

Peralta, L. (2024, February 1). Understanding the psychology and benefits of music therapy. Save The Music Foundation. Understanding the Psychology and Benefits of Music Therapy – Save The Music Foundation

Roche, Meghan. (2021, 18 Aug) , “Four Methods of Music Therapy.” Wholistic Music Therapy, Wholistic Music Therapy, www.wholisticmusictherapy.com/blog/four-methods-of-music-therapy 

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