Experience of Music Used With Psychedelic Therapy: A Rapid Review and Implications

Music may help with the psychedelic experience, but not much attention has been paid to the specifics of the music used. This review (2020) looks at what music has been used and offers some tips on how to study it and use music in psychedelic therapy.

Abstract

“Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music emerged following discontinuation of psychedelic therapy research in the early 1970s, but psychedelic therapy research has since revived. Music remains a vital component. This study examined participants’ experiences of music in psychedelic therapy research. A rapid review of qualitative and quantitative journal articles in four major databases was conducted in February to April, 2019, using the terms hallucinogens, psychedelic, “lysergic acid diethylamide,” psilocybin, ayahuasca, music, and/or “music therapy.” Of 406 articles retrieved, 10 were included (n = 180; 18–69 years old). Participants had varied backgrounds. Music was widely considered integral for meaningful emotional and imagery experiences and self-exploration during psychedelic therapy. Music transformed through its elicitation of anthropomorphic, transportive, synesthetic, and material sensations. Music could convey love, carry listeners to other realms, be something to “hold,” inspire, and elicit a deep sense of embodied transformation. Therapeutic influence was especially evident in music’s dichotomous elicitations: Music could simultaneously anchor and propel. Participant openness to music and provision of participant-centered music were associated with optimal immediate and longer-term outcomes. Many studies reported scarce details about the music used and incidental findings of music experienced. Further understanding of participants’ idiosyncratic and shared responses to music during drug therapy phases will inform optimal development of flexible music protocols which enhance psychedelic therapy. Music therapists could be involved in the psychedelic therapy research renaissance through assisting with research to optimize music-based protocols used. If psychedelics become approved medicines, music therapists may be involved in offering psychedelic therapy as part of therapeutic teams.”

Authors: Clare O’Callaghan, Daniel J. Hubik, Justin Dwyer, Martin Williams & Margaret Ross

Notes

• The review looks at what music has been used and from 10 studies (n=180) distills what is most commonly used, the summary below is a summary of their summary of the Bonny and Pahnke (1972) music experience questionnaire
  1. Before onset, music chosen by the participant, pleasant & neutral
  2. Onset, good melodic line & regular rhythm, calming & reassuring
     • E.g. Adagio movements, Concerto in D for guitar (Vivaldi); Fantasia on Greensleeves (Williams); Brahms symphonies
  3. Building towards peak, alternate instrumental & vocal, supportive & positive
     • E.g. First movements of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 & Brahms’ German Requiem; Smetana’s Moldau; Opening chorus of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion
     • And; Bach’s Arioso & Come, Sweet Death; Elgar’s Enigma Variations; Mozart’s Laudate Dominum; Mahalia Jackson singing I Believe; Schubert’s Ave Maria; selections from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir albums of hymns & anthems
  4. Peak, aim to unblock feelings or help participant experience it further
     • E.g. Beethoven’s fifth symphony & first movements from his piano concertos “Winter,” from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons
     • And; Gounod’s St. Cecilia Mass; Richard Strauss’ Transfiguration from Death & Transfiguration; Faure’s Requiem, Parts III & VII; Barber’s Adagio for strings; Brahms’ The German Requiem Parts IV, V, VII; & selected hymns & anthems
  5. Comedown, reflect quit and peaceful mood
     • E.g. Adagio of Brahms’ Violin Concerto, Wagner’s Lohengrin, Prelude to Act I, & Liebestod from Tristan & Isolde; Adagio of Rachmaninoff’s second symphony; Music for Zen Meditation
     • Or; periods of silence, white noise, repeat of earlier music

• The review itself reviewed 4 conclusions
  1. Music is central for supportive and meaningful emotional and imagery experiences and therapeutic outcomes
  2. Transformation via music’s anthropomorphic, transformative, material, and dichotomous elicitations (i.e. music become personal and enabled opposing/concurrent emotional states)
  3. Openness and liked music and listening context support therapeutic outcomes
  4. Music is associated with positive, longer-term effects

• With the included studies, one does wonder how much the preferences of the participants influence the findings (e.g. wanting ethnic music, which could be caused by the age and general worldviews of the participants).

• The review ends with some recommendations of which letting participants sample music beforehand (and choose a playlist based on this type of music) is probably the wisest.

Significant Mentions / Follow-Up

Psychedelics and music: neuroscience and therapeutic implications (Barret, Preller & Kaelen, 2018)