Current status of music therapy for schizophrenic patients

Treatments for schizophrenic patients consist of physical treatment, which is typically antipsychotic treatment, and psychosocial treatments, like behavioral therapy, occupational therapy, and music therapy. Although antipsychotics suppress some symptoms, they cannot cure deficits in social functions, such as communication disorders. The physical conditions of the patients should be ameliorated first by medication. Passive music therapy is considered as one of coping techniques with auditory hallucination and delusion, including conversation with others, watching TV. Music therapy employed during the acute phase has to finish the intervention within a relatively short period of time. Mainly psychotic symptoms are assessed before and after the intervention in the acute phase. Music therapy employed during the chronic phase lasts for a relatively long period of time. Mainly psychotic symptoms, social functioning and quality of life are assessed in the chronic phase.