Ewelina Dobrzyńska, Helena Cesarz, Joanna Rymaszewska, Andrzej Kiejna

Music Therapy - history, definitions, and application             47

Summary

Music has been used for treatment purposes since the earliest times. Over the centuries there have been many concepts regarding its functional mode, like ancient concepts, the concept of causing vibration in tissues and recently influencing the physiological functions of organisms. A scientific basis for music therapy only emerged after World War II and the term ';'music therapy'' was introduced in about 1950. Contemporary music therapy is used in many fields of medicine, as well as in special pedagogies and mental health protection. It complements pharmacotherapy as a part of complex treatment, together with other forms of artetherapy, psychotherapy and physiotherapy, which requires the strict cooperation of therapists, physicians and psychologists.