An agenda for excellence: the role of music therapy for people living with chronic pain

Hilary Moss; Katie Fitzpatrick; Patricia O'Shea; Joanne Loewy; Caroline Hussey; Dominic Harmon; Stephane Guetin; Lisa Gallagher; John Corcoran; Amy Clements-Cortes; Joke Bradt

doi:10.47513/mmd.v15i2.925

Authors

Hilary Moss Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Ireland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4813-2910
Katie Fitzpatrick University of Limerick https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5373-7503
Patricia O'Shea
Joanne Loewy https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7629-8286
Caroline Hussey Queen Margaret University Edinburgh Scotland
Dominic Harmon University of Limerick Hospitals Group https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1835-1311
Stephane Guetin Paris Descartes University
Lisa Gallagher Cleveland Clinic, Alverno College, Baldwin Wallace University, and Ohio University, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4057-3941
John Corcoran
Amy Clements-Cortes Faculty of Music, University of Toronto and Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5855-4802
Joke Bradt Creative Arts Therapies Department, Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7313-9829

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47513/mmd.v15i2.925

Keywords:

music therapy, chronic pain, music and pain, music medicine, music-based interventions, research recommendations

Abstract

Research on the role of music and music therapy conducted for several decades reflect a dearth of literature on the health and well-being benefits of music-based and music therapy interventions for people living with chronic pain. To support advances of research on music therapy for chronic pain, the authors met regularly as members of a Special Interest Group on music, music therapy and chronic pain. The authors, from five different countries, representing the perspectives of music therapy, community music, pain medicine, and service user, discussed theoretical and methodological issues to be addressed in future studies. This article summarizes our collective thoughts in relation to priority questions for future research in music therapy and chronic pain, ethical challenges, research methods, practice techniques and future priority areas. The article sets an agenda for high quality research and practice for music therapy in the treatment and care of people living with chronic pain.

Author Biographies

Hilary Moss, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Ireland

Hilary Moss is Associate Professor of Music Therapy at University of Limerick and co-chairs the Special Interest Group on music therapy and chronic pain at the International Association of Music Medicine.
Title: Associate Professor
Affiliation: Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.

Katie Fitzpatrick, University of Limerick

Katie Fitzpatrick is Senior Music Therapist with the pain service at the University of Limerick Hospitals Group, a PhD researcher at the University of Limerick, and co-chairs the Special Interest Group on music therapy and chronic pain at the International Association of Music Medicine.
Title: PhD Candidate and Senior Music Therapist.
Affiliation: Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland & University of Limerick Hospitals Group, Limerick, Ireland.

Patricia O'Shea

Patricia is a retired Primary School Physical Education Teacher and PPI member with a BSc. in Health and Fitness.
Title: PPI member and service user.

Joanne Loewy

Prof Joanne Loewy, DA, LCAT, MT-BC

Joanne Loewy is the Director of the Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine, Mount Sinai Health System, NYC and a founding member of the International Association for Music and Medicine.

Title: Professor
Affiliation: Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine, Mount Sinai Health System, NYC, USA

Caroline Hussey, Queen Margaret University Edinburgh Scotland

Caroline Hussey is a music therapist and doctoral candidate at Queen Margaret University, Scotland.
Title: PhD Candidate and music therapist.
Affiliation: Queen Margaret University, Scotland, UK.

Dominic Harmon, University of Limerick Hospitals Group

Dominic Harmon is a consultant in Anesthesia and the Pain Medicine Lead at the University of Limerick Hospitals Group, Ireland.
Title: Professor
Affiliation: Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, University of Limerick Hospitals Group, Limerick, Ireland.

Stephane Guetin, Paris Descartes University

Stéphane Guétin is a music therapist, doctor in Clinical Psychology and president and founder of MUSIC CARE offering music solutions for hospitalized patients.
Title: Dr
Affiliation: Paris Descartes University

Lisa Gallagher, Cleveland Clinic, Alverno College, Baldwin Wallace University, and Ohio University, USA

Lisa Gallagher is the founder of the Music Therapy Program, and is the Research Program Manager for the Arts & Medicine Department at the Cleveland Clinic.
Title: Dr

John Corcoran

John Corcoran is a Chronic Pain Ireland board member with extensive experience in business strategy & development.
Title: Board member and service user
Affiliation: Chronic Pain Ireland

Amy Clements-Cortes, Faculty of Music, University of Toronto and Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada.

Amy Clements-Cortés is Assistant Professor, Music and Health Research Collaboratory at the University of Toronto, Ontario.
Title: Assistant Professor and Music Therapist.

Joke Bradt, Creative Arts Therapies Department, Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA.

Joke Bradt is Professor and Director of the PhD program in Creative Arts Therapies at Drexel University.
Title: Professor