Dissertation - World Federation of Music Therapy

2. Literature review
Introduction
This literature review will focus on the role and potentials of music therapy,
especially BMGIM, in oncology and related clinical areas. The review is based on
two electronic databases (’Endnote Libraries’; see Bonde 2002, 2003), which are
topic specific databases developed during the last six years, one on BMGIM literature
in general, and one on music therapy and cancer literature, including music therapy in
palliative care. The databases and an introduction to their use are included on the cd-
rom accompanying this dissertation.
However, the dissertation includes other literature reviews. Chapter 3 provides a
comprehensive theoretical discussion framework for the qualitative investigations in
chapters 6, 7, and 8, and presents an extensive literature review on theories of
metaphor and narrative in semantics, psychotherapy and music therapy. Literature on
methodology is reviewed in the appropriate sections of chapters 5, 6 and 8. A specific
review of the literature on music analysis in music therapy research is given in section
8.1.
2.1 Music Medicine and Music Therapy in Medical Conditions
Music therapy is a relatively young profession internationally, and consequently a
new treatment modality in Denmark. During the 20 years, in which an academically
based and formalized training has existed in the further education system in Denmark,
clinical practice and research has mainly focused on psychiatry, developmental
disabilities (child and adult populations) and the elderly (Wigram, Pedersen and
Bonde 2002). Neither music therapy nor music/music therapy in medicine have yet
been established in somatic hospitals in Denmark. In other countries however,
especially in the USA, in Great Britain and in Germany, music therapy is found as a
complementary intervention form and as a research topic within the medical field,
including cancer (Dileo 1999a, Standley 1995; Verres 1999). Music in medicine
seems to be a growing field in the same countries.
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