Dance movement therapy improves emotional responses and modulates neurohormones in adolescents with mild depression

Int J Neurosci. 2005 Dec;115(12):1711-20. doi: 10.1080/00207450590958574.

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.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods
  • Dance Therapy / methods*
  • Depression / blood
  • Depression / physiopathology
  • Depression / psychology
  • Depression / therapy*
  • Dopamine / blood
  • Electrochemistry / methods
  • Emotions / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Neurotransmitter Agents / blood*
  • Psychological Tests / statistics & numerical data
  • Radioimmunoassay / methods
  • Serotonin / blood
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Neurotransmitter Agents
  • Serotonin
  • Dopamine