Proceedings, Oxford, UK (2002) - World Federation of Music Therapy

dyskenesia, akathisia (motor restlessness) and parkinsons syndrome. The
latter may include hypersalivation and drooling as well as muscular
rigidity, alterations of posture, tremor and autonomic symptoms. These
side effects are often distressing to the patient and necessitate the
prophylactic prescription of anti Parkinson medication. The chronic,
irreversible disorder of tardive dyskenesia can also develop. This is a
neurological syndrome consisting of abnormal, involuntary, stereotyped
and rhythmic motor movements of the face.
A randomised controlled study may demonstrate whether a more subtle
interaction is possible between moderated medication levels and the
provision of consistent therapeutic input. This obviously requires
sensitive monitoring with regard to the impact of planned and unplanned
breaks in therapy, levels of developing insight and the individual’s
psychic and cognitive ability to internalise the experience. Patient’s are
frequently both knowledgeable and interested in their medication. This
approach may alleviate distress and thus encourage compliancy to
medication. More individual case studies are required to establish
whether these findings can be replicated.
Stella Compton Dickinson. July 2002
“The whole of manifestation has its origin in vibration, in sound; and
this sound was the first manifestation of the universe. Consequently the
human body was made of tone and rhythm. The most important thing
in the physical body is breath, and the breath is audible; it is most
audible in the form of the voice. This shows that the principal signs of
life in the physical body are tone and rhythm, which together make
music. Rhythm appeals to man because there is a rhythm going on in
the body. The beating of the pulse and the movement of the heart both
indicate this rhythm. The rhythm of the mind has an effect on the
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