Rationale for the Effects of Familiar Music on Agitation and Orientation Levels of People in Posttraumatic Amnesia

Abstract

Observing highly agitated, disoriented and distressed young adults experiencing posttraumatic amnesia (PTA) is emotionally difficult for both the family and the staff caring for them. The author discusses the findings of a research project, reported elsewhere, which addressed the agitation and poor orientation of this client group. Firstly, the author outlines the phenomena of posttraumatic amnesia and illustrates the similarities in clinical presentation with people in coma and those who have Alzheimer's Disease. Following this, the text examines the research findings in relation to music therapy work with these clinical groups. The Yerkes–Dodson theory of arousal (1908) and the Activation Theory of arousal (Morruzzi and Magoun, 1949) are adopted to explain the findings. Music's creation of a familiar and safe environment and its role in decreasing arousal is in depth.

Keywords:

• Posttraumatic amnesia
• orientation
• agitation
• familiar music