Utilizing Music Therapy to Enhance Competency Restoration Treatment
Year: 2019
Type: article
Abstract: In Dusky v. the United States (1960), the Supreme Court ruled that the U.S. Constitution requires all defendants to be competent to proceed before the judge issues a verdict. Specifically, to stand trial, defendants must have a factual and rational understanding of court proceedings and the capacity to work with their attorneys. Those who are found incompetent to proceed frequently have severe and persistent mental illness and often exhibit cognitive deficits (Mossman et al., 2007). Competency restoration utilizes therapeutic services to treat symptoms that inhibit defendants from being opined competent to proceed. Existing research suggests music therapy can be used to modulate learning, decrease symptoms of mental illness, and enhance cognitive processes (Werner, Wosch, & Gold, 2017; Nilsson, 2008; Thompson & McFerran, 2015). This review of the literature describes the clinical implications of utilizing music therapy to enhance competency restoration programs and the mechanisms for change based upon Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Ultimately, this enhancement will aim to provide effective services and decrease the length of stay and overall wait time of competency restoration.
Author: Cory Linder
Language: English
Topic: Music Therapy and Health
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2949442301