Dance movement therapy for dementia

Abstract

Background Dementia is a collective name for different degenerative brain syndromes which, according to Alzheimer's Disease International, affects approximately 35.6 million people worldwide. The latest NICE guideline for dementia highlights the value of diverse treatment options for the different stages and symptoms of dementia including non-pharmacological treatments. Relevant literature also argues for the value of interventions that acknowledge the complexity of the condition and address the person as a whole, including their physical, emotional, social and cognitive processes. At the same time, there is growing literature that highlights the capacity of the arts and embodied practices to address this complexity. Dance movement therapy is an embodied psychological intervention that can address complexity and thus, may be useful for people with dementia, but its effectiveness remains unclear. Objectives To assess the effects of dance movement therapy on behavioural, social, cognitive and emotional symptoms of people with dementia in comparison to no treatment, standard care or any other treatment. Also, to compare different forms of dance movement therapy (e.g. Laban-based dance movement therapy, Chacian dance movement therapy or Authentic Movement). Search methods Searches took place up to March 2016 through ALOIS, Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement's Specialized Register, which covers CENTRAL, a number of major healthcare databases and trial registers, and grey literature sources. We checked bibliographies of relevant studies and reviews, and contacted professional associations, educational programmes and experts from around the world. Selection criteria We considered randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in any language, including cross-over design and cluster-RCTs for inclusion. Studies considered had to include people with dementia, in any age group and in any setting, with interventions delivered by a dance movement therapy practitioner who (i) had received formal training (ii) was a dance movement therapist in training or (iii) was otherwise recognised as a dance movement therapist in the country in which the study was conducted. Data collection and analysis The two review authors independently reviewed studies on an abstract/title level and again after reading the full paper, and we independently evaluated methodological quality.

Promoting wellbeing and health through active participation in music and dance: a systematic review

“…Recent research on arts and health centres on how performing arts can best serve people living with debilitating and chronic illness such as dementia, Parkinson's disease, and mental illness (Adam, Ramli, & Shahar, 2016;Coaten & Newman-Bluestein, 2013;Guzman, Freeston, Rochester, Hughes, & James, 2016;Jones, 2016;Karkou & Meekums, 2017;Lannen, Worrall, Alston, Marley, & Allan, 2012;Lapum & Bar, 2016;Särkämö et al, 2016;Sorrell, 2018;Sung & Chang, 2005;Sung, Chang, & Lee, 2010;Verghese et al, 2006). For example, multiple studies have shown that dance therapy can significantly improve gait, movement, balance, and wellbeing in patients with Parkinson's disease (Butt, 2017;Hackney & Earhart, 2010;Hackney & McKee, 2014;Hashimoto, Takabatake, Miyaguchi, Nakanishi, & Naitou, 2015;Karkou & Meekums, 2017;Lewis, Annett, Davenport, Hall, & Lovatt, 2016;McNeely, Duncan, & Earhart, 2015;Rios Romenets, Anang, Fereshtehnejad, Pelletier, & Postuma, 2015;Rocha, Slade, McClelland, & Morris, 2017;Shanahan et al, 2017;Ventura et al, 2016). Music therapy is also a well-established approach to treating a range of issues, such as speech pathologies, poor mental health, and social and behavioural difficulties in children and adults (Edwards, 2011;MacDonald et al, 2012).…”

Systematic review of evidence underpinning non-pharmacological therapies in dementia

“…However, these therapies lack supporting research. Massage, laughter therapy, simulated presence therapy, dance movement therapy, art therapy, structured activities, animal-assisted interventions, environmental interventions, simulated presence therapy and combination therapies (2,(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(47)(48)(49)(50) have some evidence and it is important to continue further research in these specific therapy options to determine efficacy of the therapy.…”

A comparative analysis of body psychotherapy and dance movement psychotherapy from a European perspective

“…Furthermore, there are three Cochrane Systematic Reviews for DMP and schizophrenia (Ren & Xia 2013), cancer care (Bradt, Shim & Goodill, 2015), depression (Meekums, Karkou & Nelson, 2015), and dementia (Karkou & Meekums, 2014). (2004) embodied feelings and somatic marker hypothesis.…”