Emotional change processes in music-assisted reframing

Affective processes are critical to understanding and promoting lasting therapeutic change. Using a sample of 40 anxious adults, the researchers examined the use of music to increase affective modification and emotional restructuring in a cognitive reframing intervention. Subjects were assigned to either a typical reframing intervention or a music-assisted reframing intervention. Using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Subjective Units of Distress Scale, Depression Adjective Checklist, and a Think-Aloud measure, the groups were compared on basis of anxiety-reduction, affective modification, and imagery vividness. Results indicate that the music-assisted reframing intervention was more efficacious than the typical reframing intervention in reducing anxiety, modifying affect, and promoting imagery-vividness.