MUSIC THERAPY IN THE REHABILITATION OF A STROKE PATIENT

Background: In addition to motor and cognitive rehabilitation, stroke patients often require assistance with emotional adaptation to their changed situation. Music therapy can constitute a significant therapeutic modality for these patients. The goal of my research was to identify the impact of my own program of individual music therapy on mood, anxiety, emotional control, acceptance of illness, coping style, and other parameters of health psychology. Case description: This article describes a 50-year-old female patient, who had suffered an eschemic right hemisphere stroke, and was undergoing in-patient rehabilitation. She took part in 10 sessions of individual music therapy, intended not only to improve her mood, but also to help her accept her illness and cope with pain, strengthen her feeling of control over her own health, identify her feelings, and deal with difficult emotions more effectively. Tests and questionnaires from the field of health psychology were filled out by the patient before and after participation in the program. Results: Music therapy significantly elevated her mood, reduced her anxiety and suppression of negative emotions, and increased her acceptance of the illness. Most importantly, while listening to music she experienced movement in the previously hemiplegic arm. Conclusions: Music therapy can be broadly applied to improve the emotional state of patients in rehabilitation, supplementing other kinds of psychological help. Further research on a large group of patients is indicated in order to determine whether listening to music can evoke movement in hemiparetic limbs.