Investigating effects of rhythm-music group on hope, anxiety, depression, emotion regulation, functionality and cognitive functions of individuals with diagnosis of schizophrenia

Introduction: Music therapy is a method which is used for different aims in which various parts of music and psychotherapy have been integrated and become a therapy method by itself. Objective: In this thesis, it is aimed to examine the effect of a medium (16 weeks) rhythm-music group on the level of hope, anxiety, depression, cognitive processes, emotion regulation difficulty and functioning of individuals with schizophrenia who are in remission and do not receive therapy and which group therapeutic factors are beneficial in the group process. Material and Method: The study was carried out as an experimental study with a pre-test post-test randomized control group, in the Department of Psychiatry at Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine (IU ITF). The sample consisted of 16 volunteer participants (8 people included in the research group, 8 people included in the control group) between the ages of 18-50 who received pharmacological treatment in the IU ITF Psychiatry Department and were referred to the Art Psychotherapy and Rehabilitation Program (SPR). In addition, pre and post interviews were made with the experimental and control group participants and the caregivers of the experimental group. In these interviews, the scales applied to the experimental and control groups were "State and Trait Anxiety Scale, State and Trait Hope Scale, Beck Depression Scale, Beck Anxiety Scale, Neuropsychological Test Battery (Number Range, Benton Judgement of Line Orientation, Clock Drawing, Tower of London and Tracking Test), Emotion Regulation Difficulty Scale, Global Functioning Assessment Scale and Group Therapeutic Factors List, and "Personal Information Form" was used for sociodemographic information. Observation data of the experimental group were kept by the research director every week and were included in the study as qualitative data. The therapy process is a 16-week study that takes place within 2 hours, 1 day a week, within a semi-structured plan. Psychodynamic, relational, supportive, "here and now" focused eclectic music therapy approach was used. Results: The data obtained as a result of the research were analyzed using the nonparametric statistical tests, Wilcoxon Signed Ranks and Mann Whitney-U tests. For the experimental group participants, an increase in functionality in Symptoms and Loss of Function sub-dimensions was seen in General Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF) and a significant decrease was observed in the Sub-dimensions of Not Accepting and Strategies in the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). When DERS scores of the experimental and control groups were compared, a significant difference was found in the Goals and Strategies sub-dimensions. A significant decrease was observed in the post-test scores of the Beck Anxiety Scale (BAI) in experimental group. For the experimental group, it was seen that they benefited the most from the Group Therapeutic Factors named "Catharsis, Existential Factors Corrective Recapitulation of Primary Family Group, Group Cohesiveness and Universality" sub-dimensions. Discussion or Conclusion: The use of eclectic music therapy reduced the level of anxiety, improved self-care and relationship building capacity, increased general and professional functionality levels, improved emotion regulation capacities, and people who came together with group cohesiveness in the comprehensiveness of music found the opportunity to express themselves in a safe place.