Dance Movement Therapy Improves Emotional Responses and Modulates Neurohormones in Adolescents With Mild Depression

Abstract

This study assessed the profiles of psychological health and changes in neurohormones of adolescents with mild depression after 12 weeks of dance movement therapy (DMT). Forty middle school seniors (mean age: 16 years old) volunteered to participate in this study and were randomly assigned into either a dance movement group (n = 20) or a control group (n = 20). All subscale scores of psychological distress and global scores decreased significantly after the 12 weeks in the DMT group. Plasma serotonin concentration increased and dopamine concentration decreased in the DMT group. These results suggest that DMT may stabilize the sympathetic nervous system. In conclusion, DMT may be effective in beneficially modulating concentrations of serotonin and dopamine, and in improving psychological distress in adolescents with mild depression.

The Effect of Exercise on Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Seven trials were conducted in the United States, 16-22 one trial was conducted in Chile, 23 one was conducted in Iran, 24 one was conducted in South Korea, 25 and one was conducted in the United Kingdom. 26 Seven trials allocated participants through individual randomisation, 16,17,20,22,[24][25][26] and four reported using cluster randomisation.…”

“…26 Seven trials allocated participants through individual randomisation, 16,17,20,22,[24][25][26] and four reported using cluster randomisation. 18,19,21,23 …”

“…Two trials included females only, 24,25 one trial included males only, 20 and all remaining trials included both genders. The mean age of participants in each trial ranged from 14.7 to 17 years of age.…”

“…18,19,21,23,25 One trial included participants with scores indicating moderate depression from an "at risk" population in a juvenile delinquent institution. 20 Five trials recruited clinical samples: two trials recruited inpatients receiving treatment for depression or dysthymia from psychiatric inpatient settings 16,22 ; two trials included participants with a diagnosis of depression who were not currently receiving psychiatric treatment 17,24 ; and one trial included participants who were receiving outpatient treatment for depression.…”

“…20 Five trials recruited clinical samples: two trials recruited inpatients receiving treatment for depression or dysthymia from psychiatric inpatient settings 16,22 ; two trials included participants with a diagnosis of depression who were not currently receiving psychiatric treatment 17,24 ; and one trial included participants who were receiving outpatient treatment for depression. 26 Based on the average baseline depression score, severity of depression was interpreted as follows: severe in two trials 24,26 ; moderate to severe in one trial 22 ; moderate in two trials 17,20 ; mild in two trials 16,25 ; average (i.e., below mild) in three trials 19,21,23 ; and unable to be classified in one trial. 18 Only two trials included baseline exercise participation data, 25,26 reporting that participants were sedentary.…”