Hayden Ton and Ryan Wertz presented on music therapy for PTSD. They defined PTSD based on the DSM-V criteria, and discussed intrusive symptoms, avoidance behaviors, negative thoughts and mood changes, and arousal symptoms. They explained that music therapy can help reduce PTSD symptoms by promoting neuron growth and activation of brain regions related to well-being. A local nonprofit, Boise Hive, was featured that uses music therapy and counseling to help prevent suicide. Research on music therapy for PTSD is growing, analyzing quantitative measures and comparing music therapies to traditional treatments.

1. MUSIC
THERA-PTSD
BY HAYDEN TON AND RYAN WERTZ
Brought to you by Art With Impact

2. TRIGGER
WARNING
This presentation contains the
following sensitive topics:
- Suicide
- PTSD
- Anxiety
- Substance use
- Depression
- Trauma
- War/Violence

3. We are second year medical students from
Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine
This talk is brought to you by AWI in partnership with
ICOM's student interest group for neurology and
psychiatry:
SIGN+Psych
Hayden is President and Ryan is Vice President.
We are also featuring a local mental health and music
focused non-profit:
Boise Hive
Intro

4. How do you define
Posttraumatic
Stress Disorder?

6. How did that make
you feel?
What stood out?

7. Criterion A: You were exposed to one or more event(s) that involved death or threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or
threatened sexual violation
Criterion B: You experience at least one intrusive symptoms associated with the traumatic event
Criterion C: Frequent avoidance of reminders associated with the traumatic event
Criterion D: At least two negative changes in thoughts and mood that occurred or worsened following the experience of the traumatic
event
Criterion E: At least two changes in arousal that started or worsened following the experience of a traumatic event
Criterion F: The above symptoms last for more than one month
Criterion G: The symptoms bring about considerable distress and/or interfere with your life
Criterion H: The symptoms are not due to a medical condition or some form of substance use
Can specify if with Depersonalization, Derealization, or Delayed expression
For more info: https://www.verywellmind.com/ptsd-in-the-dsm-5-2797324
For a DSM-V diagnosis for PTSD one must meet all of the following criteria:
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
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8. Based on these criteria, what are some
examples of the following?
Intrusive Symptoms
Avoidance Behaviors
Negative Thoughts/Mood
Arousal Symptoms

9. Criterion B Intrusive Symptoms
Unexpected or expected reoccurring, involuntary, and intrusive upsetting memories of the
traumatic event
Repeated upsetting dreams related to traumatic event
The experience of some type of dissociation (for example, flashbacks)
Strong and persistent distress upon exposure to cues
Strong bodily reactions (for example, increased heart rate) upon reminder of traumatic event
Criterion C Avoidance
Avoidance of thoughts, feelings, or physical sensation, people, places, conversations, activities, etc.
related traumatic event
Criterion D Negative Changes in Thoughts or Mood
Inability to remember aspects of traumatic event
Elevated self-blame or blame of others
Loss of interest in activities
Feeling detached from others
Criterion E Arousal
Difficulty concentrating
Heightened startle response
Irritability or aggressive behavior
Problems sleeping
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Lo
Fe
Criter
Di
He
Irr
Pro
Examples

10. What populations are at
higher risk for PTSD?
Higher in men or women?

11. Some statistics
Major Depressive Disorder = 52%
Alcohol Use Disorder = 63% have PTSD
Substance Use Disorder = 72%
Suicidal Ideation = 24%
Prevalence
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3
7
5
5
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Comorbidity
Prognosis

12. Therapies
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (60% response)
Cognitive Processing Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Trauma-informed care models
Current Treatments
Medications
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (60% response, 20-
30% remission)
Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (40% remission)
Some antipsychotics (off label, unclear efficacy)
A-receptor blockers (prazosin for nightmares)
Antiepileptics
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Current Treatments

13. How can music/art be
therapeutic?

15. How was music helpful to
Shawn?

16. Say Hi to
Non-profit focused on preventing suicide in the
music community
Features
Music Therapy
Counseling
Alcoholics Anonymous
Food-pantry
Live Music
Rentals
and more!

17. More about Boise Hive
PTSD, and music therapy,
Featuring Gus

18. Questions for Gus?
Questi

19. Music therapy now...
Music causes increased BDNF in mouse hypothalamus
Promotes neuron growth, survival
Similar response to SSRI medications
fMRI shows activation of brain areas
associated with well-being, happiness,
belonging
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20. A
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a
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g
0
-0.5
-1
-1.5
5
2.5
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-2.5
-5
-7.5
-10
Pink = Control
Yellow = Group Music Therapy
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Music therapy now cont.

21. What do you guys
think is the future of
music therapy?

22. Music therapy later
Analysis of quantitative measures (IL-6, interleukin 1β,
TNF-α, IFNγ, hsCRP) that have been correlated
Differentiating between types of music or formats (bands,
individual, group-led, open mic, etc.)
Randomized Controls comparing music therapies to
traditional treatments
Larger study sizes
18

23. and
Thank you!

24. References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
Tull, M. T. (2019, November 7). The Criteria for Diagnosing PTSD in DSM-5. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/ptsd-in-the-dsm-5-2797324
Olff M. Sex and Gender Differences in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: an Update. European Journal of Psychotraumatology. Sept, 2017.
Rytwinski NK, Scur MD, Feeny NC, et al. The co-occurrence of major depressive disorder among individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder: a meta-analysis. J Trauma Stress.
2013;26:299–309.
Seal KH, Cohen G, Waldrop A, et al. Substance use disorders in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in VA healthcare, 2001–2010: implications for screening, diagnosis and treatment.
Drug Alcohol Depend. 2011;116:93–101.
Ramsawh HJ, Fullerton CS, Herberman Mash HB. Risk for suicidal behaviors associated with PTSD, depression, and their comorbidity in the U.S. Army. J Affect Disord.
2014;161:116–122.
Gradus JL, Antonsen S, Svensson E, Lash TL, Resick PA, Hansen JG. Trauma, comorbidity, and mortality following diagnoses of severe stress and adjustment disorders: a nationwide
cohort study. Am J Epidemiol. 2015;182(5):451–458.
Boscarino JA. Posttraumatic stress disorder and mortality among US Army veterans 30 years after military service. Ann Epidemiol. 2006;16(4):248–256.
Eftekhari A, Ruzek JI, Crowley JJ, et al. Effectiveness of national implementation of prolonged exposure therapy in Veterans Affairs care. JAMA Psychiatry. 2013;70(9):949–955.
Berger W, Mendlowicz MV, Marques-Portella C, et al. Pharmacologic alternatives to antidepressants in posttraumatic stress disorder. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry.
2009;33:169–180.
Davidson J. Treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder with venlafaxine extended release: a 6-month randomized controlled trial. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2006;63:1158–1165.
Krystal JH, Rosenheck RA, Cramer JA, et al. Adjunctive risperidone treatment for antidepressant-resistant symptoms of chronic military service-related PTSD. JAMA. 2011;306(5):493–
502.
Raskind MA, Peskind ER, Hoff DJ, et al. A parallel group placebo controlled study of prazosin for trauma nightmares and sleep disturbance in combat veterans with post-traumatic
stress disorder. Biol Psychiatry. 2007;61(8):928–934.
Yeh MS, Mari JJ, Costa MC, et al. A double-blind randomized controlled trial to study the efficacy of topiramate in a civilian sample of PTSD. CNS Neurosci Ther. 2011;17(5):305–310.
Angelucci F, Ricci E, Padua L, Sabino A, Attilio Tonali P. Music Exposure Differentially Alters the Levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Nerve Growth Factor in the Mouse
Hypothalamus. Neuroscience Letters (Oct 2007).
Menon V, Levitin DJ. The Rewards of Music Listening: Response and Physiological Connectivity of the Mesolimbic System. NeuroImage (May 2005).
Carr C, d’Ardenne P, Sloboda A, Scott C, Wang D, PriebeS. Group Music Therapy for Patients with Persistent Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – An Exploratory Randomized
Controlled Trial With Mixed Method Evaluation. Psychology and Psychotherapy, The British Psychological Society (June 2011).
Passos IC, Vasconcelos-Moreno MP, Costa LG, Kunz M, Brietzke E, Quevedo J, Salum G, Magalhães PV, Kapczinski F, Kauer-Sant'Anna M. Inflammatory markers in post-
traumatic stress disorder: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression. Lancet Psychiatry. 2015 Nov;2(11):1002-12. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00309-0. PMID:
26544749.
Greer GR, Grob CS, Halberstadt AL. PTSD symptom reports of patients evaluated for the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2014;46(1):73–77.
Erwin Krediet, Tijmen Bostoen, Joost Breeksema, Annette van Schagen, Torsten Passie, Eric Vermetten, Reviewing the Potential of Psychedelics for the Treatment of PTSD,
International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, Volume 23, Issue 6, June 2020, Pages 385–400, https://doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyaa018
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