Is there a role for music therapy in the care of the severely mentally ill?

Abstract

Objective: The role of music therapy in psychiatric care in Australia is briefly traced from the early 1990s to the present. With the shift to community-based care, contemporary music therapy practice for the severely mentally ill is reappraised alongside the principles of the recovery model. Conclusions: Music therapy is a viable option within the creative arts therapies for enhancing quality of life in people with severe and enduring mental illness.