HIV Music Therapy

HIV MUSIC THERAPY

By

Aysha Siddiqui

Psychoneuroimmunology- Dr. Debra Wilson

Walden University

Description of cells involved in the Human Immune deficiency virus (HIV)

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases (NIAID, part of the NIH) describes that HIV infection that is not being treated destroys a patient’s immune system by killing infection fighting cells. The process is when HIV infections trigger a signal to an infection fighting cell to die. This information, according to NIAID is more recent and has explained a lot of questions of how to preserve the immune system of HIV patients. HIV inserts its gene into the cellular DNA and through other composite processes replicates the infection fighting immune cells called CD+T cells (NIAID). Macchia et al. (1993) write similarly about the cells involved in the HIV patients system and explain that infection of CD4+T cells result from HIV. This process causes severe dysfunction of cellular immunity but at the same time also results in ‘polyclonal activation of B-cells’ leading to ‘hypergammaglobulinaemia’ (elevated levels of gamma globulin) and B-cell malignancies. Some research shows that Dendritic cells (DC) play an important part in the initial infection and cell to cell transmission process in HIV-1 infections (Coleman, Gelais, Wu, 2013).

Cognitive/behavioral intervention (CBT); Music therapy

Bruscia (1998) writes that the very definition of ‘music therapy’ actually sets boundaries for what purposes can this therapy be used and how effective it can be. Bruscia (1998) adds that the National Institute of Music Therapy (NAMT) defines music therapy as ‘the use of music with the aim to accomplish therapeutic aims; the restoration, maintenance and improvement of physical and mental health’. The definition, according to Bruscia (1998) is ‘music therapy is a systematic process of intervention where in the therapist helps the client to promote health using musical experiences…..’. In this definition the author emphasizes that music therapy has to be a ‘systematic’ intervention, something that would be crucial for using is for HIV patients as well.

An interesting study is conducted by Stephens, Braithwaite, Taylor (1998) on finding effective and preventive techniques for HIV among young African American (AA) population. The authors argue that hip hop music is popular among this population and can be used as a very effective tool to achieve the goal of prevention as well as therapy for young people who are at a higher risk. This study is added in this discussion in light of the fact that AA populations maybe at higher risk of getting HIV.  Some researchers believe that music is part of art therapy and they are aimed at letting the patients express some extraordinary and unique thoughts as these people are aware that they will die (Aldridge, 1993). Music therapy in that  case can be a useful tool for further research as well.

 Music therapy Modes for HIV treatment

According to Cordobés (1997) music therapy can used in various forms for HIV patients and benefits can be multiple as well. Their study used the activity of ‘group song writing’ as a CBT for HIV patients and used two control groups of group songwriting plus group games playing. They also had a third group that did not go through any kind of CBT activity. The results showed that more emotions were expressed in song writing activity and there is evidence that songwriting can be used for clinical usefulness. The study also concludes that song writing activity could be analyzed to be useful in increasing social support.

        It is appealing to note that music therapy is a technique that is diverse in cultures, regions and unlike many other techniques it has been used since ancient times to improve health. Wainberg et al. (2007) write that patients with mental illnesses are at the highest risk for HIV in Brazil, and no techniques have been as such established for prevention. They conclude that music therapy CBT are one of the best ways for prevention and treatment of HIV patients in Brazil as their culture thrives on music, dance and festivities. Hanser  (2009) confirmed the use of music therapy as part of ‘modern. Integrative treatment’ for HIV being beneficial in the same manner as was Ayurvedic medicines in ancient times in Chinese cultures.

References

Aldridge, D. (1993). Hope, meaning and the creative arts therapies in the treatment of AIDS. The Arts in psychotherapy, 20(4), 285-297.

Bruscia, K. E. (1998). Defining music therapy. Barcelona Publishers.

Coleman, C. M., Gelais, C. S., & Wu, L. (2013). Cellular and viral mechanisms of HIV-1 transmission mediated by dendritic cells. In HIV Interactions with Dendritic Cells (pp. 109-130). Springer New York.

Cordobés, T. K. (1997). Group songwriting as a method for developing group cohesion for HIV-seropositive adult patients with depression. Journal of Music Therapy, 34(1), 46-67.

Hanser, S. B. (2009). From Ancient to Integrative Medicine Models for Music Therapy. Music and Medicine, 1(2), 87-96.

Macchia, D., Almerigogna, F., Parronchi, P., Ravina, A., Maggi, E., & Romagnani, S. (1993). Membrane tumour necrosis factor-α is involved in the polyclonal B-cell activation induced by HIV-infected human T cells.

NIH scientists discover how HIV kills immune cells, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Retrieved from Doi: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/news/newsreleases/2013/Pages/HIVkillscells.aspx

Stephens, T., Braithwaite, R. L., & Taylor, S. E. (1998). Model for using hip-hop music for small group HIV/AIDS prevention counseling with African American adolescents and young adults. Patient Education and Counseling,35(2), 127-137.

Wainberg, M. L., McKinnon, K., Mattos, P. E., Pinto, D., Mann, C. G., de Oliveira, C. S. D. S & Cournos, F. (2007). A model for adapting evidence-based behavioral interventions to a new culture: HIV prevention for psychiatric patients in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. AIDS and Behavior, 11(6), 872-883.