音樂治療成為正式學門始於第二次世界大戰期間及稍後,也就是在音樂開始被注意到能夠促進復原及治療「戰壕休克」病人之際。之後不久,為了提昇音樂治療的科學性及提供學者們有關的準則與支持,美國的國家音樂治療協會(National Association for Music Therapy)成立於一九五~90夫年,美國音樂治療協會(American Association for Music Therapy)則創始於一九七一年。由於音樂療法之應用廣泛,過去四十年來其在不同臨床領域的應用一直受到重視。從文獻上可以看出,音樂療法於現代精神醫學之應用,早於一九五~90夫及一九六~90夫年代即被重視;自一九八~90夫年代起,則更推廣到其他身體醫療上之應用。
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