CC BY
6МЕДИЦИНСКИЕ НАУКИ (MEDICAL SCIENCES)
УДК 159.972
Niraj Sunil Maheshwari
(Perm State Medical University) (Perm, Russia)
ADJUNCT OF MUSIC THERAPY FOR DEADDICTION TREATMENT
Abstract: Music has a variable impact on the human brain, and thus it is already used in the clinical practise for many of the treatments and ailments. Music therapy is very efficient way to minimalize the psychological symptoms as it has a direct effect on the brain by the brainwaves which can be studied by an Electroencephalography (EEG), thus the aim of the whole study is to use the specific type of music in the treatment of the withdrawal symptoms which are currently being dealt with only medications or consultation therapies up to an extent. Thus, the correlations between music and brain regions can be successfully found to be useful in many cases of the treatment. Also, the music therapy which is proposed is an adjunct to the main addiction treatment which is ongoing in the rehabilitation centres or at home, for better management of the symptoms which can help the recovery period outlast the relapse of the individual back into the addiction.
Keywords: Electroencephalography (EEG), addiction, withdrawal symptoms, brainwaves.
Addiction is a Latin term for "enslaved by". It is basically psychological and physical inability to stop consuming a chemical, drug, activity, or substance, even though it is causing psychological and physical harm, as it becomes a way of maintaining normal state of the living. It has a powerful influence on the brain which affects the normal mechanism of its functioning. The pleasure feeling which is achieved by the brain is registered in the same way despite its origin, the dopamine which is released in the nucleus accumbens and dorsal striatum, which is referred to as brain's pleasure centre, while the hippocampus lays memories of the rapid satisfaction, and amygdala which creates a conditioned response to the stimuli.
Types of Addiction: 1) To substances e.g.: alcohol, opioids, cocaine, amphetamines, etc 2) Impulse regulation e.g.: kleptomania, gambling, etc 3) Behavioural e.g.: sex, food, internet, work, pain, overthinking, etc
Existing methods to treat the addictions: Counselling, medication and drug-based treatment, treating related psychological factors, care to reduce the risk of relapse.
Addiction has three phases: 1) Intoxicating phase 2) Withdrawal phase 3) Anticipation phase. In the treatment during the withdrawal and anticipation phase the general psychosomatic symptoms are: 1) Symptoms from substance abstinence: Delirium tremens, anxiety, insomnia, agitation, hypertension, depression, paranoia, irritability, restlessness, antisocial behaviour, etc. 2) Symptoms from impulsive disorders: restlessness, anxiety, sad, rage, tremors, frequent mood changes. 3) Symptoms from behavioural addictions: Irritability, restlessness, poor concentration, overthinking, frequent conflicts with closed ones, mood changes.
Music Therapy as an associative treatment method of addiction: As the ongoing studies on music therapy are widespread now, it is already in clinical use for a number of different purposes, let it be from increasing memory skills to treatment of many psychological illnesses too. That being said, the music can also have its contribution to the recovery of the addict, as in the withdrawal and relapse phase.
Impact of music on bioelectrical activity of the brain: An electroencephalography (EEG) has helped us determine the ongoing waves created by the activity of brain and depending upon their frequencies they are classified into delta (1-4 Hz), theta (4-8 Hz), alpha 1 (8-10 Hz) and alpha 2 (11-13 Hz), beta (more than 13 Hz) and gamma waves (30-40 Hz). Every time of brainwave indicate distinct states of brain and their connections with behaviour. Delta brainwave- are dominant during sleep, coma, anaesthesia. High delta wave can indicate high attentiveness.
Theta brainwave- is usually observed in drowsiness and states of low alertness, specific type of which is "frontal midline theta" which is observed in tasks of mental thinking, meditation. Theta activity is also connected to emotional functions.
Alpha brainwave- It usually affects 3 regions a) posterior alpha region for alertness and attentional factors, b) somatosensory cortex and movement, c) auditory cortex, also it is important to note that alpha power and brain activity are inversely related.
Beta brainwave- occur during awake state and an increase can be caused by stress,
tensions, but it increases the cortical integrity, and cognitive processes, it also causes increased
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blood flow of cerebral cortex and activation of precuneus region which is responsible for memory association, integration of information, and episodic memory. High beta waves increase alertness, active concentration.
Gamma brainwave- have low related affects in connection to music impact.
How actually does this will help in the treatment of addiction:
Music basically of 5 types can help in relieving the withdrawal symptoms and in turn
preventing the drift into relapse phase. 1) Classical music: Studies have shown that repeated
listening to classical music for some period increases the alpha wave frequency and as already
stated above it has inverse effect which lowers the brain activity, which proves to be calming,
relaxing and thus withdrawal symptoms like restlessness, anxiety, excitability, paranoia can
be controlled to an extent, thus proving its positive effect. Classical music also has it
therapeutic powers. 2) Nature/ white noise: white noise is a mixture of all the frequencies from
20 Hz and above and can act as beta and gamma waves relieves stress to an extent, causes
euphoria, and a feeling of relief. 3) Lyrical music: Lyrical music is nothing but a simple music
with vocals which triggers rather more areas of the brain than which is done by the instrumental
music. Research studies shows that lyrical music can have both positive and negative impact
on the mind, depending on the choice and genre of music, as it activates our limbic system
particularly amygdala, parahippocampal gyrus responsible for emotions, memory, motivation,
particularly amygdala, and inferior frontal gyrus which assists in language processing.
Speaking neurobiologically studies have also shown that lyrical music modifies its effect with
attentive and nonattentive behaviour, with high alpha wave activity and high theta and delta
wave activity, respectively. Thus, the same can be used for symptoms management like
restlessness, excitability, nervousness, and also for insomnia, depression, low emotional state,
mental stress. 4) Music with 50 - 80 bpm as the heart rate: while some studies have also shown
that it is more important as the tempos of the music than its type for having a stronger impact
on brain. Dr Emma Gray, a cognitive behavioural therapist found out that listening to music
with 50 - 80 beats per minute can put the brain into an alpha state. When a person is awake
his mind is in beta state and full of alertness between 14 - 30 Hz, but as the brains goes into
an alpha state which relaxes and calms our brain, supressing the critical thinking and a sense
of satisfaction. So, this too proves to be a helpful way in the management of many of the
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withdrawal symptoms which a person experience. Also, studies have proven that 'brain music' can be used as a tool for treating insomnia. 5) Favourite music: As the research of Teresa Lesuik shows that listening to favourite music can help boost mood and performance, it still holds to be true when it comes to neurobiological explanation, as another research article by Lindsley, Wicke & Walter shows that familiarity and non-familiarity with the music have variable impacts on brainwave activity, with the same showing high theta brainwave activity and high alpha brainwave activity, respectively. Simply put, the non-familiarity of the music affects the state of mind, helps concentrate, and the familiarity with the same can activate the alpha state thus drifting the brain into more relaxed and calm state. Thus, the music therapy can be given in the accordance with the same for management of symptoms of withdrawal.
Also, as already known to us that listening to music releases endorphins and so-called anti-stress hormone, cortisol which can therefore be used for prevention of stress triggered substance use, during the recovery phase and for the prevention of relapse.
It is also a proved theory as long term music therapy increases alpha and decreases beta activity and can successfully cure depression, or anxiety symptoms, and can also increase the cognitive functions.
And finally, the well-known fact that the music also have a impact on the brain's reward system, as due to prolonged music hearing dopamine is released into the nucleus accumbens, and it brings the feeling of pleasure for which the addict is used-to already, which can prevent the relapse triggers of the individual going back to the addiction phase.
Conclusion: The studies of respectable sources thus backs up my article study that music thus can be used for management of the symptoms of the withdrawal to an extent. And thus, the music therapy can be used an adjunct in the treatment of de-addiction, proven by the effects it has on the human brain.
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