Enhancing quality of life through singing : a music therapy study into Huntington's Disease : a research dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Music Therapy at the New Zealand School of Music, Wellington, New Zealand
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Date
2012
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Massey University
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Abstract
This mixed methods study investigated whether the process of singing in music
therapy can enhance the quality of life of patients with Huntington’s Disease. It took
place in New Zealand, over a two-month period, in a residential home dedicated to
the rare condition. The research involved five participants: two residents diagnosed
with Huntington’s Disease who participated in individual music therapy sessions,
two caregivers at the facility, and the music therapy student (MTS). The study
endeavoured to answer the research question by triangulating three data sources.
Data sources included; the MTS’s clinical notes of the sessions, semi-structured
interviews with the staff members and a short questionnaire developed by the
researcher which involved gathering the personal self-rated scores from the resident
participants. A thematic analysis was undertaken with the two text-based data
sources (clinical notes and interview transcripts) and the questionnaire scores were
collated for each case. However the questionnaire results were deemed
predominantly invalid. The triangulation of findings found that participants observed
the process of singing had contributed to areas of quality of life for both of the
residents, by providing them with: 1) a stimulus for socialisation; 2) emotional and
psychological support; and 3) support for their remaining cognitive and physical
ability. The outcome of the study found that the process of singing stimulated the
resident participants in two contrasting ways and their motivation to participate was
not only the singing itself but also the music in the session, instrumental play and the
relationship between the residents and the MTS. From the perspectives of the
participants consulted in this study it was concluded that the results from this
research added some rich detail to the current literature available. Findings also
concluded that residents, caregivers and the MTS herself valued the process of
singing in music therapy and regarded it as an important intervention when seeking
to preserve the quality of life of Huntington’s patients.
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Keywords
Music therapy, Huntington's chorea patients, Singing, Voice, Therapeutic use