According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMN) schizophrenia affects about one percent of the world’s population. Schizophrenia is characterized by the NIMN as, “a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and acts” (2015). Music therapy may be efficient in improving the mental health of schizophrenics (Talwar, Crawford, Maratos, Nur, McDermott, & Procter, 2006). In the present paper, the effects of music therapy on schizophrenic patients is investigated.
Patients’ who participate in clinical research for schizophrenia tend to be measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) which was created in 1987 (Fiszbein, Kay, Opler 1987). The PANSS scale measures seven main positive symptoms, which are defined as an excessive showing of normal functions, which are delusions, conceptual disorganization, hallucinations, hyperactivity, grandiosity, suspiciousness, and hostility. In addition, it also measures seven main negative symptoms, which are defined as a lack of normal functions,blunt affect, emotional withdrawal, poor rapport, passive-apathetic social withdrawal difficulty of abstract thinking, lack of spontaneity and control of conversation, and stereotyped thinking. Lastly, PANSS will also measure sixteen other general symptoms; somatic concern, anxiety, guilt feelings, tension, …show more content…
For example, I would have to be 100% truthful at all times because of the possible sensitive nature of the patients. Another thing I have to take into consideration is the possibility that a delicate topic might come up during the interview and I would have a guardian or a medical professional there in case the patient starts to feel uncomfortable or is exhibiting signs of danger to either himself or anyone else present. Lastly consent from both the patient and guardian will be