PROFESSIONAL AND PATIENT ATTITUDES ABOUT THE RELEVANCE OF MUSIC-THERAPY AS A TREATMENT MODALITY IN NAMT APPROVED PSYCHIATRIC-HOSPITALS

This study investigated mental health professionals' and patients' att itudes regarding the perceived relevance of the music therapy treatmen t modality The study focused on attitudinal differences among interdis ciplinary team members and also on those between staff and patients re garding their views of music therapy's role, strengths, and weaknesses . In addition, the study investigated whether music therapists' attitu des and expectations matched those of other professionals, whether the psychiatric hospital was a practical setting in which to address musi c therapy treatment goals and issues, and how music therapists felt ab out their positions. The ''music therapists' job satisfaction'' catego ry included areas such as job respect, job recognition, salary, compet ency and educational components, and professional credentials. Survey forms were mailed to 18 music therapy clinical training directors who were willing to distribute them to psychiatrists, clinical psychologis ts, social workers, rehabilitation therapists, nursing staff, and pati ents in NAMT approved psychiatric facilities, or to subjects directly, when the training director provided individual staff names from his o r her hospital. Music therapist survey forms were sent to music therap ists whose names were listed in inpatient psychiatric units in the 199 5 NAMT membership sourcebook. Most health care professionals reported a positive image about the music therapy profession and music therapis ts, although significant differences existed among the various subject classes' perceptions. Psychiatrists viewed music therapy as less than essential therapeutic intervention. Psychologists and social workers responded less positively to treatment goals that they considered to b e in ''their'' treatment areas, but they valued music therapy primaril y for therapeutic recreation. Staff members who have observed music th erapy sessions valued music therapy services more highly than staff wh o had not made such observations. Patients valued music therapy treatm ent less than other professionals. Music therapists rated music therap y services as having a higher treatment value than other disciplines, including rehabilitation therapy.