The contributions of music therapy to the prevention and mitigation of the effects of toxic stress and trauma in pediatric patients undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplants: A qualitative multi-case study

Abstract

It is well documented that adverse or traumatic events in childhood can lead to increased incidences of serious mental and physical health diseases and disorders. It is also well documented that medical treatment, especially during childhood can be stressful and potentially traumatic, leading to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or Symptoms after treatment. This is especially true for lengthy and invasive medical treatment such as Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT). A single music therapy intervention has been shown to effectively improve resilience in pediatric HSCT patients. But additional research is needed to understand the contribution music therapy interventions make to traumatic and stressful experiences and building resilience across time. This longitudinal two-phase multi-case study examined the patterns of potential trauma, toxic stress, and resilience during the HSCT process as well as the potential roles, functions, and contributions of music therapy interventions to the mitigation and prevention of toxic stress and trauma. The first phase, a retrospective multi-case study, resulted in the construction of a preliminary model of music therapy which identified patterns of stress and trauma and how the music therapy process interacts with these patterns. In the second phase, a purposeful sample of cases was used to confirm, clarify, and challenge the model utilizing Template Analysis. The outcome is the Music Therapy for Pediatric Medical Trauma, a proposed model of music therapy to focus treatment with the intention of mitigating toxic stress and trauma and build resilience in pediatric HSCT patients.