A1 Journal article (refereed)
The effects of dance movement therapy in the treatment of depression : a multicenter, randomized controlled trial in Finland (2020)

Hyvönen, K., Pylvänäinen, P., Muotka, J., & Lappalainen, R. (2020). The effects of dance movement therapy in the treatment of depression : a multicenter, randomized controlled trial in Finland. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, Article 1687. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01687

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Hyvönen, Katriina; Pylvänäinen, Päivi; Muotka, Joona; Lappalainen, Raimo

Journal or series: Frontiers in Psychology

eISSN: 1664-1078

Publication year: 2020

Publication date: 12/08/2020

Volume: 11

Article number: 1687

Publisher: Frontiers Media SA

Publication country: Switzerland

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01687

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/71696

Abstract

This multicenter research investigates the effects of dance movement therapy (DMT) on participants diagnosed with depression. In total, 109 persons participated in the study in various locations in Finland. The participants were 39 years old, on average (range = 18–64 years), and most were female (96%). All participants received treatment as usual (TAU). They were randomized into DMT + TAU (n = 52) or TAU only (n = 57). The participants in the DMT + TAU group were offered 20 DMT sessions twice a week for 10 weeks in addition to standard care. The measurement points included pretreatment measurement at the baseline, posttreatment measurement at the end of the intervention, and a follow-up measurement 3 months afterward. The observed effects of the intervention among participants in the DMT+TAU group were a greater reduction in depression and in indicators of physical and psychological distress in comparison to the participants who received TAU-only. At the 3-month follow-up, the corrected between-group effect sizes (ESs) were medium and in favor of the DMT + TAU group (d = 0.60–0.72). These results are in line with the increasing number of research studies showing the benefits of DMT intervention among participants with depression, and these results indicate that DMT may improve the effectiveness of standard care.

Keywords: dance therapy; movement therapy; randomised controlled trials; adults; depression (mental disorders); dance (performing arts)

Free keywords: dance movement therapy; adults; depression; Beck Depression Inventory; Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure; The Symptoms Check List-90

Contributing organizations

Related projects

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2020

JUFO rating: 1