A Systematic Review

Music therapy (MT) and music-based interventions (MBIs) are increasingly used for the treatment of substance use disorders (SUD). Previous reviews on the efficacy of MT emphasized the dearth of research evidence for this topic, although various positive effects were identified. Therefore, we conducted a systematic search on published articles examining effects of music, MT and MBIs and found 34 quantitative and six qualitative studies. There was a clear increase in the number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) during the past few years. We had planned for a meta-analysis, but due to the diversity of the quantitative studies, effect sizes were not computed. Beneficial effects of MT/ MBI on emotional and motivational outcomes, participation, locus of control, and perceived helpfulness were reported, but results were inconsistent across studies. Furthermore, many RCTs focused on effects of single sessions. No published longitudinal trials could be found. The analysis of the qualitative studies revealed four themes: emotional expression, group interaction, development of skills, and improvement of quality of life. Considering these issues for quantitative research, there is a need to examine social and health variables in future studies. In conclusion, due to the heterogeneity of the studies, the efficacy of MT/ MBI in SUD treatment still remains unclear

Music therapy in Austria:A national survey study on the professional situation of music therapists

In 2018, the Music Therapy Research Centre Vienna (WZMF) conducted a national survey of the professional situation of music therapists in Austria. Following a previous survey from 2011, this study aimed to provide current data and to illustrate changes in the professional field. Since 2009, music therapy in Austria has been regulated by the Music Therapy Act. All working music therapists must be registered and therefore constitute a homogeneous group, which enables systematic research in the field.An invitation to take part in an online survey was sent to all 405 music therapists who were registered in October 2018. The survey covered the music therapists’ current working situation including workplace, hours of work per week, fields of work as well as legal and financial issues.With a response rate of 73.8 % (299 people), the results offer representative data from 380 workplaces. In general, the findings show an increase in music therapy services, which are offered most frequently for children and adolescents with developmental or behavioural problems (22.5 %) and for adults with mental health problems (21.5 %).The high response rate means that the results provide representative data for the situa­tion of music therapists in Austria. Beyond that, this data may also be used as a reference to support professional development internationallyDas Wiener Zentrum für Musiktherapie­Forschung (WZMF) führte 2018 eine österreich­weite Berufsgruppenerhebung unter Musiktherapeut.innen durch. In Anlehnung an eine bereits 2011 durchgeführte Befragung, bestand das Ziel vorliegender Studie da­rin, Entwicklungen im Berufsfeld aufzuzeigen und aktuelle Daten bereitzustellen. Da Musiktherapie in Österreich seit 2009 durch ein eigenes Berufsgesetz geregelt wird, das für die Berufsausübung eine Registrierung voraussetzt, liegt eine homogene und gut zu beforschende Berufsgruppe vor.Alle 405 in Österreich eingetragenen Musiktherapeut.innen (Stand: Oktober 2018) wurden per Email kontaktiert und mittels Online­Fragebogen nach ihrer aktuellen beruflichen Situation hinsichtlich Arbeitsstellen und Arbeitsfeldern sowie rechtlichen und finanziellen Rahmenbedingungen befragt.Die Umfrage erzielte einen Rücklauf von 73,8 % (299 Personen) und erfasste Infor­mationen zu 380 Arbeitsstellen. Die zwei Hauptarbeitsfelder waren Kinder und Ju­gendliche mit Entwicklungs­/Verhaltensauffälligkeiten (22,5 %) sowie Erwachsene mit psychischen Erkrankungen (21,5 %). Im Vergleich mit früheren Erhebungen zeigten die Ergebnisse insgesamt einen Zuwachs an musiktherapeutischer Versorgung.Die hohe Rücklaufquote ermöglicht repräsentative Aussagen zur Situation von Mu­siktherapeut.innen in Österreich und die Daten können auch über den nationalen Kontext hinausreichend als Referenzzahlen berufspolitische Arbeit unterstützen

Musik als Krisenprävention im Corona-Lockdown: Erkenntnisse aus einem musiktherapeutischen Projekt in Österreich

From April 20, 2020 to April 20, 2021 a preventive music therapy offer was made available free of charge on the website lieblingslied.at with the aim of making a contribution to psychosocial prevention in times of COVID-19-related social distancing in Austria. After individual users had registered, they were each connected to a music therapist or music therapy student who, at an agreed time, played a favourite song of the users’ choices and then talked with them about it. The music-sociological research accompanying this project provided valuable information about this new format of music therapy and how people deal with music in times of social crisis. The participants showed a high level of awareness of the potentially mood-regulating effects of music, and they emphasized the connecting and strengthening element of listening to music together with someone. The potential of a low-threshold preventive-therapeutic music offer, which can also be used without physical co-presence, was confirmed in the consistently positive feedback from the participants. Although the service was widely publicized in newspapers and on the radio, the participation of therapy seekers remained below expectations. The project primarily addressed a particularly music-interested, highly educated audience.From April 20, 2020 to April 20, 2021 a preventive music therapy offer was made available free of charge on the website lieblingslied.at with the aim of making a contribution to psychosocial prevention in times of COVID-19-related social distancing in Austria. After individual users had registered, they were each connected to a music therapist or music therapy student who, at an agreed time, played a favourite song of the users’ choices and then talked with them about it. The music-sociological research accompanying this project provided valuable information about this new format of music therapy and how people deal with music in times of social crisis. The participants showed a high level of awareness of the potentially mood-regulating effects of music, and they emphasized the connecting and strengthening element of listening to music together with someone. The potential of a low-threshold preventive-therapeutic music offer, which can also be used without physical co-presence, was confirmed in the consistently positive feedback from the participants. Although the service was widely publicized in newspapers and on the radio, the participation of therapy seekers remained below expectations. The project primarily addressed a particularly music-interested, highly educated audience.From April 20, 2020 to April 20, 2021 a preventive music therapy offer was made available free of charge on the website lieblingslied.at with the aim of making a contribution to psychosocial prevention in times of COVID-19-related social distancing in Austria. After individual users had registered, they were each connected to a music therapist or music therapy student who, at an agreed time, played a favourite song of the users’ choices and then talked with them about it. The music-sociological research accompanying this project provided valuable information about this new format of music therapy and how people deal with music in times of social crisis. The participants showed a high level of awareness of the potentially mood-regulating effects of music, and they emphasized the connecting and strengthening element of listening to music together with someone. The potential of a low-threshold preventive-therapeutic music offer, which can also be used without physical co-presence, was confirmed in the consistently positive feedback from the participants. Although the service was widely publicized in newspapers and on the radio, the participation of therapy seekers remained below expectations. The project primarily addressed a particularly music-interested, highly educated audience.From April 20, 2020 to April 20, 2021 a preventive music therapy offer was made available free of charge on the website lieblingslied.at with the aim of making a contribution to psychosocial prevention in times of COVID-19-related social distancing in Austria. After individual users had registered, they were each connected to a music therapist or music therapy student who, at an agreed time, played a favourite song of the users’ choices and then talked with them about it. The music-sociological research accompanying this project provided valuable information about this new format of music therapy and how people deal with music in times of social crisis. The participants showed a high level of awareness of the potentially mood-regulating effects of music, and they emphasized the connecting and strengthening element of listening to music together with someone. The potential of a low-threshold preventive-therapeutic music offer, which can also be used without physical co-presence, was confirmed in the consistently positive feedback from the participants. Although the service was widely publicized in newspapers and on the radio, the participation of therapy seekers remained below expectations. The project primarily addressed a particularly music-interested, highly educated audience

Electroencephalography and Music Therapy: On the Same Wavelength?

Abstract Particularly due to its temporal resolution, electroencephalography (EEG) has proved to be a feasible tool to study music perception and cognition. Consistent with the growing impact of neuroscientific research in music within the last two decades, the application of electrophysiological parameters has become more interesting for music therapy as well. This article offers an overview of electrophysiological basics and principles of EEG recording. Further, it reviews some electrophysiological studies on music perception. Eventually, it focuses on the results of EEG studies in participants with depression: clinically relevant reductions in depression and anxiety parameters are accompanied by lasting changes in resting EEG, that is, significant absolute power increases at left frontotemporal alpha and theta waves. The implications for future developments in research and clinical practice of music therapy are discussed

Corticosteroids as risk factor for COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis in intensive care patients

Purpose: Corticosteroids, in particular dexamethasone, are one of the primary treatment options for critically ill COVID-19 patients. However, there are a growing number of cases that involve COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA), and it is unclear whether dexamethasone represents a risk factor for CAPA. Our aim was to investigate a possible association of the recommended dexamethasone therapy with a risk of CAPA. Methods: We performed a study based on a cohort of COVID-19 patients treated in 2020 in our 13 intensive care units at Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin. We used ECMM/ISHM criteria for the CAPA diagnosis and performed univariate and multivariable analyses of clinical parameters to identify risk factors that could result in a diagnosis of CAPA. Results: Altogether, among the n = 522 intensive care patients analyzed, n = 47 (9%) patients developed CAPA. CAPA patients had a higher simplified acute physiology score (SAPS) (64 vs. 53, p < 0.001) and higher levels of IL-6 (1,005 vs. 461, p < 0.008). They more often had severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (60% vs. 41%, p = 0.024), renal replacement therapy (60% vs. 41%, p = 0.024), and they were more likely to die (64% vs. 48%, p = 0.049). The multivariable analysis showed dexamethasone (OR 3.110, CI95 1.112-8.697) and SAPS (OR 1.063, CI95 1.028-1.098) to be independent risk factors for CAPA. Conclusion: In our study, dexamethasone therapy as recommended for COVID-19 was associated with a significant three times increase in the risk of CAPA

Symmetry-breaking transitions in networks of nonlinear circuit elements

We investigate a nonlinear circuit consisting of N tunnel diodes in series, which shows close similarities to a semiconductor superlattice or to a neural network. Each tunnel diode is modeled by a three-variable FitzHugh-Nagumo-like system. The tunnel diodes are coupled globally through a load resistor. We find complex bifurcation scenarios with symmetry-breaking transitions that generate multiple fixed points off the synchronization manifold. We show that multiply degenerate zero-eigenvalue bifurcations occur, which lead to multistable current branches, and that these bifurcations are also degenerate with a Hopf bifurcation. These predicted scenarios of multiple branches and degenerate bifurcations are also found experimentally.Comment: 32 pages, 11 figures, 7 movies available as ancillary file

Melatonin and its metabolites ameliorate UVR-induced mitochondrial oxidative stress in human MNT-1 melanoma cells

Melatonin (Mel) is the major biologically active molecule secreted by the pineal gland. Mel and its metabolites, 6-hydroxymelatonin (6(OH)Mel) and 5-methoxytryptamine (5-MT), possess a variety of functions, including the scavenging of free radicals and the induction of protective or reparative mechanisms in the cell. Their amphiphilic character allows them to cross cellular membranes and reach subcellular organelles, including the mitochondria. Herein, the action of Mel, 6(OH)Mel, and 5-MT in human MNT-1 melanoma cells against ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation was investigated. The dose of 50 mJ/cm2 caused a significant reduction of cell viability up to 48%, while investigated compounds counteracted this deleterious effect. UVB exposure increased catalase activity and led to a simultaneous Ca++ influx (16%), while tested compounds prevented these disturbances. Additional analysis focused on mitochondrial respiration performed in isolated mitochondria from the liver of BALB/cJ mice where Mel, 6(OH)Mel, and 5-MT significantly enhanced the oxidative phosphorylation at the dose of 10&#8722;6 M with lower effects seen at 10&#8722;9 or 10&#8722;4 M. In conclusion, Mel, 6(OH)Mel and 5-MT protect MNT-1 cells, which express melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) against UVB-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, including the uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation

Knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and serological status related to Chagas disease among Latin American migrants in Germany: A cross-sectional study in six German cities

BackgroundLittle is known about knowledge, attitudes and behaviors concerning Chagas disease (CD) among Latin American migrants in Germany to inform public health decision making.MethodsA cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted between March 2014 and October 2019 among Latin American migrants in six cities in Germany to obtain information on migration history, socioeconomic and insurance status, knowledge about CD, potential risk factors for Trypanosoma cruzi infection, and willingness to donate blood or organs.Results168 participants completed the questionnaire. The four countries with the highest proportion of participants contributing to the study population were Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Ecuador. Before migrating to Europe, the majority of the study population resided in an urban setting in houses made of stone or concrete, had higher academic education and was integrated into the German healthcare and healthcare insurance system. The majority of all study participants were also willing to donate blood and organs and a quarter of them had donated blood previously. However, many participants lacked basic knowledge about symptoms and modes of transmission of Chagas disease. One out of 56 serologic tests (1.8%) performed was positive. The seropositive female participant born in Argentina had a negative PCR test and no signs of cardiac or other organ involvement.ConclusionsThe study population does not reflect the population structure at risk for T. cruzi infection in endemic countries. Most participants had a low risk profile for infection with T. cruzi. Although the sample size was small and sampling was not representative of all persons at risk in Germany, the seroprevalence found was similar to studies previously conducted in Europe. As no systematic screening for T. cruzi in Latin American blood and organ donors as well as in women of child-bearing age of Latin American origin is implemented in Germany, a risk of occasional transmission of T. cruzi remains