Background: Dance is an embodied activity and, when applied therapeutically, can have several specific and unspecific health benefits. In this meta-analysis, we evaluated the effectiveness of dance movement therapy 1 (DMT) and dance interventions for psychological health outcomes. Research in this area grew considerably from 1.3 detected studies/year in 1996–2012 to 6.8 detected studies/year in 2012–2018. Method: We synthesized 41 controlled intervention studies ( N = 2,374; from 01/2012 to 03/2018), 21 from DMT, and 20 from dance, investigating the outcome clusters of quality of life, clinical outcomes (with sub-analyses of depression and anxiety), interpersonal skills, cognitive skills, and (psycho-)motor skills. We included recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in areas such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, autism, elderly patients, oncology, neurology, chronic heart failure, and cardiovascular disease, including follow-up data in eight studies. Results: Analyses yielded a medium overall effect ( d 2 = 0.60), with high heterogeneity of results ( I 2 = 72.62%). Sorted by outcome clusters, the effects were medium to large ( d = 0.53 to d = 0.85). All effects, except the one for (psycho-)motor skills, showed high inconsistency of results. Sensitivity analyses revealed that type of intervention (DMT or dance) was a significant moderator of results. In the DMT cluster , the overall medium effect was small, significant, and homogeneous/consistent ( d = 0.30, p < 0.001, I 2 = 3.47). In the dance intervention cluster , the overall medium effect was large, significant, yet heterogeneous/non-consistent ( d = 0.81, p < 0.001, I 2 = 77.96). Results suggest that DMT decreases depression and anxiety and increases quality of life and interpersonal and cognitive skills, whereas dance interventions increase (psycho-)motor skills. Larger effect sizes resulted from observational measures, possibly indicating bias. Follow-up data showed that on 22 weeks after the intervention, most effects remained stable or slightly increased. Discussion: Consistent effects of DMT coincide with findings from former meta-analyses. Most dance intervention studies came from preventive contexts and most DMT studies came from institutional healthcare contexts with more severely impaired clinical patients, where we found smaller effects, yet with higher clinical relevance. Methodological shortcomings of many included studies and heterogeneity of outcome measures limit results. Initial findings on long-term effects are promising.

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This purposes of this mixed methods feasibility study were to determine whether people with schizophrenia in an inpatient psychiatric facility were able to complete the research protocol, and to obtain preliminary treatment effects of a single-session dance/movement therapy (DMT) intervention versus verbal treatment as usual (TAU). Thirty-two participants were randomized to a 45-minute DMT or verbal TAU session. Data were collected quantitatively using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and qualitatively through open-ended interviews. Results indicated that participants in the DMT group had statistically significant symptom reduction compared with those in the TAU group in overall BPRS scores (effect size [ES] = 0.67), psychological discomfort (ES = 0.64), negative symptoms (ES = 0.67), and positive symptoms (ES = 0.55). No statistical significance was shown for resistance. Qualitative findings substantiate the quantitative findings, however, show divergence regarding resistance. Participants in the DMT group expressed feeling in control, less angry, and motivated for treatment.

Background Dance/movement therapy (DMT) interventions have been used to support people with schizophrenia; however, these typically include lengthier interventions. Current inpatient hospitalization lengths of stay do not offer the time needed to implement such interventions. The current treatment protocol for people in acute phases of schizophrenia is psychopharmacological; however, high rates of medication nonadherence and limited effects on negative symptomatology suggest the need for complementary psychosocial treatment options. The purpose of this study was to determine: feasibility of protocol completion, feasibility of measurement sensitivity, and the effects of a single-session DMT intervention compared to a single-session verbal treatment as usual (TAU) intervention. Methods This mixed methods feasibility study utilized a convergent mixed methods feasibility design. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected simultaneously in a single phase from the experimental and control groups. In this study, the quantitative strand was prioritized and constituted most of the data collection. A qualitative strand was added to enhance the understanding of participants’ experiences of the intervention and control conditions. Thirty-two participants were randomized to a 45-minute DMT session or a 45-minute verbal TAU session. Quantitative data were collected using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, and qualitative data through semi-structured interviews. Results indicated that participants in the DMT intervention group had statistically significant symptom reduction versus those in the TAU group in overall BPRS scores (p &lt; 0.001), Psychological Discomfort (p &lt; 0.001), Negative Symptoms (p = 0.007), and Positive Symptoms (p = 0.003). No statistical significance was shown for Resistance. Qualitative findings substantiate the quantitative findings, however, show divergence regarding Resistance. Participants in the DMT group expressed feeling more in control, less angry, and motivated for continued treatment. Discussion These findings suggest that a single-session DMT intervention can alleviate symptoms associated with acute schizophrenia including affective regulation, and positive and negative symptomatology such as isolation, spontaneity, interpersonal skills, paranoia, and auditory hallucinations. Psychosocial interventions may be used in tandem with psychopharmacological interventions to support increased stabilization for patients experiencing acute phases of schizophrenia.