"The men drummed, and the women informed us that they chose not to drum because of their tribal traditions," Dr. Dickerson said. "They accompanied the men."
The drum used in the study remains in the clinic where the study took place. "It’s like the Stanley Cup of drums," he said. "It’s just sitting here waiting for the next go-around. Group members are encouraged to continue drumming beyond the 12 weeks of therapy. We try to hook them up with other venues where they can continue their practice."
Dr. Dickerson is currently writing a manual about how to deliver drum-assisted therapy for American Indians/Alaska Natives. He hopes to have it completed by the end of the year "and then apply for a larger grant to conduct a larger clinical trial.
Dr. Dickerson said he had no relevant financial conflicts to disclose.