Authors' objectives: To determine whether there is any evidence to support the efficacy and/or effectiveness of dance and/or movement therapy (DMT) as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Authors' results and conclusions: The evidence on the efficacy of dance therapy for treating PTSD is mixed at best, particularly compared to minimal or no treatment. When compared to active treatment, the evidence is even weaker. For studies compared to minimal or no treatment, DMT had mixed results for stress outcomes with only two of four studies having a statistically significant improvement. When studies were compared to an active comparator, there was no evidence of DMT therapy improving stress outcomes as neither of the two studies had a statistically significant improvement with DMT therapy. In longer term studies (>6 months), the results were mixed at best with the improvement for both studies lower than post-interventional levels. Across all studies, there was no standard protocol for dance movement therapy regarding the methodology such as length and frequency of sessions as well as heterogeneity in stress outcomes reported. Furthermore, the study population and stress outcomes were very heterogeneous with no study having the same population or outcomes reported. There were six published studies that examined the efficacy and/or effectiveness of dance/movement therapy in treating post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD). In this review, there are inconsistent results reporting on the use of dance/movement therapy in treating PTSD with some moderate level, low-quality evidence while other studies reporting no significant change with DMT therapy. Combined with the lack significant difference with active treatments, as well as the heterogeneity of treatment protocols, stress outcomes reported, and study population, this evidence should be interpreted with caution. Therefore, there is no conclusive evidence reporting on the efficacy of DMT in the treatment of PTSD.

Authors' methods: A comprehensive and systematic literature search was conducted on July 11, 2024. The search was done on commercial medical literature where a combination of keywords was employed in this search. Studies greater than n=5 were included to exclude case study vignettes that were pervasive in this field. No other limitations on were implemented in any of these searches. A manual search was also planned and conducted on the references of the articles that were retrieved in full.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: https://www.worksafebc.com/en/about-us/research-services/evidence-based-medicine-and-systematic-reviews

Year Published: 2024

URL for published report: https://www.worksafebc.com/en/resources/health-care-providers/guides/dance-movement-therapy-treatment-ptsd?lang=en

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Mini HTA

Country: Canada

Organisation Name: WorkSafeBC

Contact Address: 6591 Westminster Highway, Richmond, BC, V7C 1C6 Canada. Tel: 604-231-8417; Fax: 604-279-7698

Contact Name: ebpg@worksafebc.com

Contact Email: ebpg@worksafebc.com

Copyright: WorkSafe BC