E-Book of Articles - World Federation of Music Therapy

D'ulisse, M. E.. et al.: Music Therapy Conducted On A Child ...
MUSIC THERAPY CONDUCTED ON A CHILD WITH INTELLECTUAL
DISORDERS AND PSYCHOSIS, WITH SIMULTANEOUS
PSYCHOTHERAPY CONDUCTED ON THE PARENTS
D’ULISSE M.E., GRAZIANI P., POLCARO F.
This case concerns R, a ten-year-old boy, the only child of parents who
originally came from southern Italy, living in subsidized public housing
provided by the Rome City Council since the family’s economic conditions
are precarious. In fact, neither of the parents has a steady job and they are
unable to find employment because of their son’s illness and the continual
treatment he requires.
The first interview with the neuro-psychiatrist and the psychologist, both
from the public health service, who have been following R’s case, provided
the following clinical information: R had suffered prenatal problems leading
to delay in learning to walk and speak, though not particularly serious. Up
to the age of eight, the child developed without showing any particular
symptoms of disorder. From that age on, the situation changed and R began
to show disorder symptoms, often falling down and apparently becoming
unconscious.
After a series of clinical tests (including several CAT scans), the following
two-part diagnosis was made:
1) congenital dilatation of the cerebral ventricle due to probable hyper-
oxygenation at birth;
2) basic neurological problem combined with a subsequent psychotic
disorder. His tendency to fall down was diagnosed as being due to functional
hysteria.
Since October 1997, he has attended a special school for handicapped
children but has had difficulty in settling down. At school, as at home, he
displays randomly aggressive behavior, he frequently falls down, and often
suffers from periods of hallucination.
He has made a number of day-visits to the “Bambin Gesù” pediatric hospital
where he has been given anti-psychotic and anti-epileptic treatment.
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