Music Therapy : An application to the treatment for eating disorders(Art Therapy)

Abstract

In this paper, we discussed the application fo music therapy to the treatment for eating disorders. Also, we reported 10 cases suffering from eating disorders who had been treated with music therapy and two other clinical case studies. In our attempt, it was observed that music therapy was useful for most cases in establishing patient-therapist relationship, decreasing depressive moods, irritabilities, and increasing self-esteems and reality contacts. According to Winnicott's therapeutical theory, it seems true that music therapy acts as an transitional object and functions to provide a safe environment for playing and testing alternative interpersonal behaviors. And these facts impressed us with the importance of playing in the greatment of eating disorders to reinforce reality contact.