The emotional dance with depression: A longitudinal investigation of OULA® for depression in women

The primary purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate OULA®, a dance fitness program with a strong emphasis on processing emotions through dance, as an intervention for depression in women diagnosed with major or persistent depressive disorders. 53 women were eligible for participation. Women attended OULA® for 12 weeks and then abstained from OULA® during week 13. For the primary outcome, depression severity was measured using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), and secondary outcomes were measured using the Beck Anxiety Index (BAI) and the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS). After the abstinence week, women were offered 3-months of optional additional OULA®. HAM-D, BAI and SHS scores were collected at weeks 2, 4, 5-14 and at the end of the 3-month optional OULA® phase. Results from linear mixed effects repeated models show that during the 12-week intervention period and at week 26, HAM-D scores significantly decrease each week compared to baseline. Further, BAI scores significantly decrease starting at week 5 and through the end of the intervention period and at week 26. Moreover, SHS scores increased significantly for four of the weeks during the intervention period and at week 26. The results from this study suggest that OULA® may be a useful intervention for decreasing depression and anxiety severity in women with depression but may not be helpful for improving subjective happiness.

Was hilft, was wirkt?

Zusammenfassung. Was bewirkt Tanz- und Bewegungstherapie? Auf welche gesundheitsrelevanten Aspekte wirkt sie? Und vor allem: Wie wirkt sie? Was genau hilft? Auf der Grundlage eines Überblicks über Effektivitätsstudien der Tanz- und Bewegungstherapie (DMT), der deutlich macht, für welche Patientengruppen Tanztherapie bereits evidenzbasiert als wirksam getestet wurde, wendet sich der Artikel der Wirkweise der Tanztherapie zu, die noch weitgehend unerforscht ist. Zu dieser Wirkweise gehören generelle Wirkfaktoren, die für alle Psychotherapien gelten, Mechanismen, die für alle Künstlerischen Therapien gelten (von denen die Tanztherapie ein Teil ist), Mechanismen, die für alle Körperpsychotherapien gelten (von denen die Tanztherapie ebenfalls ein Teil ist); und spezifische Wirkfaktoren, die nur für die Tanztherapie gelten. Auf der Grundlage eines Überblicks differentieller Indikationen, und unter Einbezug existierender Theorien und der wenigen vorliegenden empirischen Ergebnisse werden Wirkfaktoren und Wirkweisen der Tanz- und Bewegungstherapie diskutiert und in ein Theoriemodell der Verkörperten Ästhetik eingebettet, das für alle Künstlerischen Therapien entwickelt wurde, und auch für die Körperpsychotherapien einen sinnvollen Rahmen bietet. Das Modell legt die Zirkularität von „Merken“ (Impression, Bewegt sein, Kinästhetik) und „Wirken“ (Expression, Bewegen, Kinetik) zugrunde, betont die aktive Seite des „Kunst-Schaffens“, und erlaubt die Ableitung und Überprüfung von Hypothesen zu angenommenen Wirkfaktoren. Schließlich werden die spezifischen Wirkfaktoren der Tanztherapie herausgearbeitet und diskutiert.

A Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Findings About Dance/Movement Therapy for Individuals With Trauma

The therapeutic potential of using dance/movement therapy is being increasingly recognized. Preliminary interdisciplinary research findings suggest engaging the body in trauma treatment might reduce the length of treatment by addressing the connections among thoughts, feelings, neurobiology, and somatic responses in the survivor. Unfortunately, empirical research investigating its effectiveness as a psychotherapeutic intervention has been limited due to the lack of a clear manual for mental health care practitioners. The present study aims to synthesize findings from the existing qualitative literature in a qualitative meta-synthesis. Our findings will contribute to the development of a body-oriented intervention for mental health care practitioners to use for trauma.

Effectiveness of complementary and self-help treatments for anxiety disorders

OBJECTIVES

To review the evidence for the effectiveness of complementary and self-help treatments for anxiety disorders.

DATA SOURCES

Systematic literature search using PubMed, PsycLit, and the Cochrane Library.

DATA SYNTHESIS

108 treatments were identified and grouped under the categories of medicines and homoeopathic remedies, physical treatments, lifestyle, and dietary changes. We give a description of the 34 treatments (for which evidence was found in the literature searched), the rationale behind the treatments, a review of studies on effectiveness, and the level of evidence for the effectiveness studies.

CONCLUSIONS

The treatments with the best evidence of effectiveness are kava (for generalised anxiety), exercise (for generalised anxiety), relaxation training (for generalised anxiety, panic disorder, dental phobia and test anxiety) and bibliotherapy (for specific phobias). There is more limited evidence to support the effectiveness of acupuncture, music, autogenic training and meditation for generalised anxiety; for inositol in the treatment of panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder; and for alcohol avoidance by people with alcohol-use disorders to reduce a range of anxiety disorders.