Dissertation - World Federation of Music Therapy

specific therapeutic influence in the imagery in different stages of the therapeutic
process. A grounded theory of the interplay of music and imagery was proposed.
An eighth sub-question originally included in the study was: What elements describe
the participants’ GIM processes, as experienced from the therapist’s perspective?
The question was addressed in two interviews with the therapist, however it was later
decided to discard sub-question 8 from the study. It became clear that the originally
intended inclusion of the therapist’s perspective and the role of therapeutic
relationship would demand a more thorough research design. However, the
consequences of excluding this dimension will be discussed in section 9.3.1.
9.2 Findings in relation to previous research and the theoretical
basis
9.2.1 The overall efficacy of BMGIM in cancer rehabilitation
As reported in chapter 2 previous studies of BMGIM in cancer rehabilitation were
predominantly case studies. Only two efficacy studies were identified (Burns 1999,
2001; Clark and McKinney 2004). Burns’ study indicated that 10 individual BMGIM
sessions might effectively improve mood and life quality of cancer survivors. It was a
small-scale study with 8 participants (all living with breast cancer, 4 in the treatment
group, 4 in the control group). In the present study there were 6 participants (4 living
with breast cancer, 2 with abdominal cancer) and no control group, and different
questionnaires were used to measure mood and QoL influences of BMGIM. In order
to build on previous research, the clinical trials in the treatment condition in the two
studies were administered in a similar way, and the results are also consistent. Clark
and McKinney’s study [10 participants, all women living with non-metastatic breast
cancer] indicated that 6 individual BMGIM sessions might reduce depression and
increase emotional and social well-being. However, the observed positive changes at
post-test were not sustained through the 6-week follow-up. Clark and McKinney
concluded that a minimum of 10 sessions (as in Burns’ study) is needed to sustain the
positive effect of BMGIM on mood and QoL. Given this, and the similar findings in
the present study, the results suggest that 10 individual BMGIM sessions are
potentially sufficient to improve mood and QoL of cancer patients in rehabilitation
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