Effectiveness of dance/movement therapy on affect and psychotic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a debilitating and pervasive mental illness involving a range of cognitive, behavioral, and emotional dysfunctions alongside impaired occupation or social functioning. Previous studies have suggested that dance/movement therapy (DMT) could be useful for the treatment and management of the symptoms of schizophrenia. This study investigated the effects of DMT on affect and psychotic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. The DMT group (n = 18) received both DMT and medical treatment over 12 weeks, and the control group (n = 20) received only medical treatment. The DMT group showed a significant decrease of state anger and depression compared to the control group after treatment (for state anger, F (1, (1, 36) = 2.26, p < .05; for depression F (1, (1, 36) = 5.92, p < .01), and attained a significant increase of anger control compared to the control group after treatment (F (1, (1, 36) = 5.11, p < .01). For psychotic symptoms the DMT group showed a significant decrease of negative psychotic symptoms compared to the control group after treatment (F (1, (1, 36) = 5.12, p < .01). DMT is therefore presented as a treatment program that can reduce negative affect with anger control, and improve negative psychotic symptoms.