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dc.contributor.advisorRandy L. Gollub.en_US
dc.contributor.authorHsieh, Christine L. (Christine Lih)en_US
dc.contributor.otherHarvard--MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2014-01-14T15:25:34Z
dc.date.available2014-01-14T15:25:34Z
dc.date.issued2013en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/83967
dc.descriptionThesis (Ph. D.)--Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, 2013.en_US
dc.descriptionCataloged from PDF version of thesis.en_US
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references.en_US
dc.descriptionIntroduction: It is postulated that music has been part of society for at least 50,000 years, since the time that humans lived in one location of the world before dispersing across the globe (44). Over the eras it evolved in its manifestation, from classical performances enjoyed only by the elite, to soulful songs sung in the fields, to myriad forms of expression to be used by anyone. Today, its prominence has even evolved into being used as a tool for cognitive therapy, such as for aphasia patients (41), or to heal those who no longer have the ability to move their bodies (40). Given its incredible, seemingly endless potential, it is fruitful to explore new innovations in its usage - with treatment for chronic diseases such as depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders being ideal candidates. These diseases are high in their cost on resources, both human and monetary, and have weighty long-term impacts on patients' lives as well as their families', with depression being the leading cause of disability worldwide according to the World Health Organization (43). Music is positioned as a potent remedy, as its attributes are almost the mirror negative of the effects from chronic disease: it is low cost, pleasurably pervasive, and socially connecting Thus, the intention behind the design of study 1 in this thesis was to create a pilot, self -driven, wellness-enhancing music treatment that could be used as the basis for a future treatment for depression. It was meant to be a relatively brief longitudinal study examining adherence and feasibility for a personal music augmented mindfulness practice in a small group of healthy subjects. From the insights gleaned during this study, it was determined that the choice of strongly emotional, personal music could be potentially powerful in another disease context. In study 2, the design contracted from a longitudinal one to an acute, nuanced observation of enhanced music analgesia during experimental heat pain with healthy subjects. The clinical tool of interest was a proven analgesia boosting conditioning paradigm, which was combined in this study with personal music. Together, the two studies provide a revealing glimpse of humankind's ability to harness the best attributes it can for self-care from a medium it itself created.en_US
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityby Christine L. Hsieh.en_US
dc.format.extent80 pagesen_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherMassachusetts Institute of Technologyen_US
dc.rightsM.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.en_US
dc.rights.urihttp://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582en_US
dc.subjectHarvard--MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology.en_US
dc.titleThe use of strong personal media in the context of chronic disease treatment : music as a mediator of depression and pain experienceen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.description.degreePh.D.en_US
dc.contributor.departmentHarvard University--MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology
dc.identifier.oclc863154998en_US


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