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Open research questions in Music Therapy and Health

81 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 1,305 Music Therapy and Health papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • experiencing The proposed model may have practical relevance for psychotherapists working with individuals psychotraumatic symptoms, particularly in situations where direct verbal processing of traumatic material is limited by heightened arousal, dissociation, emotional overwhelm, or difficulties in symbolization. In such cases, rhythmic interventions may provide an for therapeutic supporting regulation, observation, and gradual engagement with traumatic experience. additional pathway The model may be especially applicable during the stabilization phase of trauma-focused work and within Positive and Transcultural Psychotherapy, where it can complement the exploration of conflicts, capacities, and concepts. The integration of rhythmic interaction with the Balance Model and the five-stage strategy offers for a clinicians incorporating into psychotherapeutic practice. structured sensory experiences framework At the same time, the present article has several is limitations. The proposed model conceptual and practice-based rather than empirical in nature. The described mechanisms from and therapeutic effects are derived theoretical integration and clinical observations and have not yet been systematically evaluated through quantitative or qualitative research. Consequently, the model should be regarded as a theoretical proposition requiring further empirical examination.

    Rhythmic stabilization of psychotraumatic experiences in Positive and Transcultural Psychotherapy (PPT): A sensory-conceptual approach · 2026 · DOI

  • Every research has its own boundaries and limitations, so the limitations this study faced are as follows: ● Sample size (N=105) is relatively small, and the convenience sampling method, which was used to collect our data, is not strong enough to claim these findings as representative of all engineering students.

    Everyday Coping and Stress: The Role of Musicb Listening and Emotion Regulation among Engineering Students in Sikkim · 2026 · DOI

  • However, cortisol measurements obtained at a single daily time point are insufficient to infer a short-term modulatory effect of the intervention on basal hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity.

    The impact of sound intervention on sleep quality and stress levels in college students: a randomized controlled trial · 2026 · DOI

  • Scalability of the intervention to remote or home-based settings is unclear, as the protocol requires specialized equipment (Muse-S headband, MindGym chamber, noise-canceling headphones) limiting practical implementation.

    Alpha and theta audiovisual interventions in a reflective chamber demonstrate acute effects on stress and burnout · 2026 · DOI

  • The study employs a single immersive environment (MindGym); comparisons with other audiovisual interventions or control conditions are not detailed in this excerpt.

    Alpha and theta audiovisual interventions in a reflective chamber demonstrate acute effects on stress and burnout · 2026 · DOI

  • The average interval of 48 days between pre-screening questionnaires and in-laboratory visits (SD = 65) introduces potential variability in participant state that is not accounted for in the analysis.

    Alpha and theta audiovisual interventions in a reflective chamber demonstrate acute effects on stress and burnout · 2026 · DOI

  • This workshop was created to develop skills related to appropriately using music as supported by the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Occupational Therapy Practice Framework-IV, and to address gaps in knowledge regarding how to use music intentionally, effectively, and safely in OT practice.

    Intentional Uses of Music in Occupational Therapy Practice: The Effectiveness of a Workshop · 2024 · DOI

  • The aim of this cross-sectional survey was to explore the levels of satisfaction of music therapists with their profession and to identify the factors influencing their job satisfaction in several countries where this topic is under researched (Israel, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Czech Republic, and Austria).

    Music Therapists’ Job Satisfaction and Related Factors: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Five European Countries and Israel · 2024 · DOI

  • Additional investigation into physiological, psychological, or situational influencing factors associated with anxiety response will help to tailor the design of future mindfulness-music therapy interventions to decrease psychological distress and address the unique psychosocial concerns among young adults receiving cancer treatment.

    Exploring Influencing Factors of Anxiety Improvement Following Mindfulness-Based Music Therapy in Young Adults with Cancer · 2023 · DOI

  • Reflections of patients have not been studied qualitatively after a completed course of individual music therapy for a major depressive disorder (MDD) or an acute phase of a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD).

    Patient Reflections on Individual Music Therapy for a Major Depressive Disorder or Acute Phase Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder · 2020 · DOI

  • BACKGROUND: Although evidence suggests music therapy lowers the heart rate of ill adults undergoing painful procedures and premature infants in the NICU, the effect of music therapy interventions on physiologic response in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) being cared for in the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) has not been explored.

    The Effect of Music Therapy Entrainment on Physiologic Measures of Infants in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit: Single Case Withdrawal Pilot Study · 2018 · DOI

  • Although some studies have suggested that music may be a useful tool in ER, few studies have examined the links between music perception/production and the neural mechanisms that underlie ER and resulting implications for clinical music therapy treatment.

    A Systematic Review on the Neural Effects of Music on Emotion Regulation: Implications for Music Therapy Practice · 2013 · DOI

  • The expeditor, termed "administrator trainee" has now accumulated enough experience to be sought after as a capable therapeutic community manager and, therefore, can negotiate a very attractive salary since the supply of such graduate ex-addicts is scarce and the number of thera- peutic communities has multiplied rapidly during the past five years.

    Sound management practices needed for the treatment of returning, drug-addicted, veterans · 1972 · DOI

  • Conclusions The study highlights the possible areas warranting further investigation of community singing interventions for people with dementia and their carers, with descriptive trends observed in selected quality-of-life and well-being measures.

    Evaluating the feasibility of Preliminary Randomised Evaluation of Singing in Dementia (PRESIDE) in community group settings · 2026 · DOI

  • Meanwhile, there are defects such as an imperfect theoretical system, limited research on the mechanism of action, difficulty in quantitatively evaluating the curative effect, and low social recognition.

    The Effects of Music Therapy on Autism · 2026 · DOI

  • This scoping review aimed to map the primary characteristics and impacts of live interactive music therapy delivered by a certified music therapist across the perioperative continuum and identify gaps in the literature to guide future research and practice in perioperative settings.

    Live Interactive Music Therapy Across the Perioperative Continuum: A Scoping Review · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should explore intraoperative delivery logistics, dose–response relationships, integration of multimodal outcomes, and anesthesia team perspectives to guide practical integration of music therapy into the anesthesia armamentarium.

    Live Interactive Music Therapy Across the Perioperative Continuum: A Scoping Review · 2026 · DOI

  • INTRODUCTION: Irritability is common in daily life and cuts across diagnoses, yet brief, non-drug options that can be delivered through everyday environments remain scarce.

    MellowLoop: A Reconfigurable Audio-Light Interaction System for Irritability Mitigation · 2026 · DOI

  • Music can have a powerful influence on exercise experiences, but lyrics—particularly misogynistic lyrics—may shape emotional and motivational responses in ways that are not yet fully understood.

    The Psychological Impact of Misogynistic Music Lyrics on Women Exercisers · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should explore whether shorter, more intensive versions of the combined intervention (such as a 6-week intensive program) could achieve comparable outcomes, which would further enhance its accessibility and practical applicability.

    Research on the Psychological Causes and Regulation Strategies of Stage Anxiety in Vocal Performance · 2026 · DOI

  • No discussion is provided regarding potential individual differences in responsiveness to alpha and theta audiovisual interventions or how personality traits measured (Big Five dimensions) may moderate intervention effects.

    Alpha and theta audiovisual interventions in a reflective chamber demonstrate acute effects on stress and burnout · 2026 · DOI

  • The study does not explicitly discuss generalizability across different occupational groups beyond those assessed in German populations, limiting the applicability of findings to broader workforce demographics.

    Alpha and theta audiovisual interventions in a reflective chamber demonstrate acute effects on stress and burnout · 2026 · DOI

  • This article introduces a framework addressing these issues, attempts to bridge current gaps in knowledge, expand capacity in the field of music therapy research, and equip clinicians, researchers, and professionals with tools and knowledge on change process research.

    Change Process Research in Music Therapy: Introducing a Transdisciplinary Framework · 2024 · DOI

  • Background Although there are a growing number of studies investigating the benefits of music therapy interventions with patients diagnosed with cancer, few studies have taken an approach that specifically examines indices of perceived well-being in women with breast cancer.

    Influence of Music Therapy on the Improvement of Perceived Well-Being Indices in Women with Breast Cancer Undergoing Hormonal Treatment · 2024 · DOI

  • Although research has demonstrated that fear negatively influences our cognitive performance, there is a research gap in understanding the combined effects of different background music tempo and fear in influencing reading comprehension performance.

    The effects of expressions of fear induced by background music on reading comprehension · 2023 · DOI

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81 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 1,305 Music Therapy and Health papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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