Music Therapy

 Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of music therapy on behavioral problems in children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder.Methods: The research method of this study was quasi-experimental using a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of the study included high-functioning children with autism spectrum disorder in special schools and counseling centers of Bandar Anzali city during the academic year 2023-2024. A total of 30 individuals were selected using purposive sampling and randomly assigned to two groups: experimental (15 individuals) and control (15 individuals). The Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was used for both groups. The experimental group received ten 45-minute sessions of music therapy intervention, while the control group received no intervention. After the completion of the therapy sessions, the questionnaire was administered again to both groups. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) statistical method with SPSS-27 software at a significance level of p < 0.05.Results: The results showed that music therapy is effective in improving behavioral problems of high-functioning children with autism spectrum disorder (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Therefore, it can be concluded that music therapy can be used to improve behavioral problems of high-functioning children with autism spectrum disorder in schools or rehabilitation centers.

Objective: The present study aimed to compare the impact of music therapy, dance movement, and art therapy on the mistrust/mistreatment schema among women aged 20 to 30 with symptoms of depression visiting counseling centers in Tehran. Method: This research is applied in purpose and quasi-experimental in method, employing a pre-test - post-test design. The population consisted of all women aged 20 to 30 with symptoms of depression who visited four counseling centers in Tehran, among whom 60 eligible individuals were purposively selected and randomly assigned to four groups (three experimental and one control). Interventions based on the therapeutic protocol (music therapy and dance movement, art therapy) were conducted in eight sessions for the experimental groups, while the control group received no intervention. To test the hypotheses, the Young Schema Questionnaire (1988) (short form of 90 questions) was used. Descriptive and inferential statistical indices, including the covariance test, were utilized for data analysis. Findings: The results showed no significant differences in the effectiveness of music therapy, art therapy, and dance therapy on the mistrust/mistreatment schema among women aged 20 to 30 with symptoms of depression visiting counseling centers in Tehran (p = 0.000). Conclusion: It can be concluded that since all three methods of music therapy, art therapy, and dance movement are forms of art therapy, they all affect the mistrust/mistreatment schema, and there is no significant difference in their effectiveness.