Date of Award

Spring 2024

Document Type

DNP Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

Committee Chairperson

Jacquelyn Owens, DNP, CRNP, FNP-BC

Committee Member

Jacquelyn Owens, DNP, CRNP, FNP-BC

Committee Member

Darlene Ardary, Ph.D, RN, CPN, CSN

Abstract

Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health issues that affect children and adolescents. It has been noted that twenty percent of adolescents will have a depressive episode or be affected by anxiety by the time they are 18 years old. Mental health issues affecting children and adolescents majorly impact all aspects of their lives, most notably academic success, behavior, growth, and development (Porter et al., 2017). Current treatments for mental disorders, including depression and anxiety, include pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments. In the adolescent population, there are conflicting opinions on the use of antidepressants due to risks of adverse effects, and a need for other effective treatments are needed (Porter et al., 2017). Collaboration with adolescent behavioral health professionals determined that there was a need for an alternative treatment for anxiety and depression. The purpose of this DNP project was to implement a structured music therapy (MT) program for adolescents in an inpatient behavioral health unit who have anxiety and depression. There was a moderate effect for therapy condition (no MT group compared to MT group) on anxiety levels and significant effect of successive treatment days on depression and anxiety levels.

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