Dissertation - World Federation of Music Therapy

hermeneutic theories of metaphor and narrative (‘Mimesis’) and its possible
application in psychotherapy and BMGIM. A theoretical understanding of music as
metaphor and analogy is outlined with examples, and a clinical theory of three levels
of narrative configuration of metaphors in BMGIM is suggested, with many
references to the BMGIM literature.
Method
As indicated above, the study is using multiple methods, with one investigation (or
section of the study) based on what Robson (2002) calls ‘fixed design’, and one
investigation (or section) based on ‘flexible design’.
The quantitative investigation was developed with a multiple case study design where
the clinical trials involved Pre-Post-Follow-Up measures . The participants were six
women, 40-65 years old, in cancer rehabilitation. They entered the project 1,5 (7
weeks) to 18 months after discharge from hospital. Each participant received 10
biweekly, individual BMGIM sessions conducted by a BMGIM therapist (Fellow of
the Association of Music and Imagery). The setting was the therapist’s private
practice, in a room equipped with a couch, a music system, chairs and a table. The
standard BMGIM format (two hours sessions), and the standard GIM music repertoire
(programs and selections) was used. The music-listening periods of the sessions were
recorded (mini-disc). The therapist made standard transcripts and summaries of the
sessions. The drawing of Mandala by participants during the session was optional,
and therefore not included in the data material.
In the data sampling three standardized and one specially constructed questionnaire
(self reports) were used:
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(a) The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS),
(b) The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of
Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30),
(c) Antonovsky's Sense of Coherences Scale (SOC)
(d) Related to subquestion (3) four specific BMGIM questions were formulated in
a questionnaire design similar to the HADS.