Music therapy for children and adolescents with behavioural and emotional problems: a randomised controlled trial

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Porter, S., McConnell, T., McLaughlin, K., Lynn, F., Cardwell, C., Braiden, H., Boylan, J., Holmes, V., & Group, t. M. i. M. S. (2016). Music therapy for children and adolescents with behavioural and emotional problems: a randomised controlled trial. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 58(5), 586-594. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12656

Publication date: 27 Oct 2016 Added to AutiHub: 25 Oct 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
9
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 9 (11.1%)
  1. Sam Porter *
  2. Tracey McConnell
  3. Katrina McLaughlin
  4. Fiona Lynn
  5. Christopher Cardwell
  1. Hannah‐Jane Braiden
  2. Jackie Boylan
  3. Valerie Holmes
  4. the Music in Mind Study Group

Abstract

Background Although music therapy (MT) is considered an effective intervention for young people with mental health needs, its efficacy in clinical settings is unclear. We therefore examined the efficacy of MT in clinical practice. Methods Two hundred and fifty‐one child (8–16 years, with social, emotional, behavioural and developmental difficulties) and parent dyads from six Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service community care facilities in Northern Ireland were randomised to 12 weekly sessions of MT plus usual care [n = 123; 76 in final analyses] or usual care alone [n = 128; 105 in final analyses]. Follow‐up occurred at 13 weeks and 26 weeks postrandomisation. Primary outcome was improvement in communication (Social Skills Improvement System Rating Scales) (SSIS) at 13 weeks. Secondary outcomes included social functioning, self‐esteem, depression and family functioning. Results There was no significant difference for the child SSIS at week 13 (adjusted difference in mean 2.4; 95% CI −1.2 to 6.1; p =.19) or for the guardian SSIS (0.5; 95% CI −2.9 to 3.8; p =.78). However, for participants aged 13 and over in the intervention group, the child SSIS communication was significantly improved (6.1, 95% CI 1.6 to 10.5; p =.007) but not the guardian SSIS (1.1; 95% CI −2.9 to 5.2; p =.59). Overall, self‐esteem was significantly improved and depression scores were significantly lower at week 13. There was no significant difference in family or social functioning at week 13. Conclusions While the findings provide some evidence for the integration of music therapy into clinical practice, differences relating to subgroups and secondary outcomes indicate the need for further study. ISRCTN Register; ISRCTN96352204.

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Cited references
51
With a DOI
36
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
13
2 / 51 (3.9%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
8 / 51 (15.7%)
References with detected author names
43 / 51 (84.3%)
Without detected author names
8
Without a structured title
6
Without a stable identifier
10
References with raw author names still to review
5
References with external metadata lookup issues
1
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
132
From DOI or external metadata
132
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
5
27 / 132 (20.5%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 105 / 132 (79.5%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
2 / 132 (1.5%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 2 / 27 (7.4%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 1 / 118 (0.8%).
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