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Dance therapy

Dance therapy

Dance therapy

The 2012 World Health Organization report states that more than 350 million people worldwide suffer from various forms of depression, with a large portion of them not responding to pharmacological treatments, worsening their mental health conditions. A research group from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland, in a study published in a leading psychology journal, has highlighted the benefits of Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) as a significant method in treating individuals with depression. Finnish researchers point to the prevalence of depression in their country, attributing 40% of work-related disabilities leading to early retirement among Finnish workers to it, stating that dance therapy helps individuals with depression establish deep connections with the surrounding community, enabling them to significantly overcome the adversities of depression.

Researchers from the universities of Leeds and East Halls in Britain have also referenced the therapeutic benefits of dance in a report. They state that the therapeutic effects of dance on patients are comparable to conventional drug treatments, which typically come with side effects.

Both reports emphasize the superiority of dance therapy over psychoanalytic approaches based on the fact that individuals suffering from depression sometimes struggle to articulate their emotions adequately, leading to increased psychological pressure from depression. When patients realize they can express what they cannot put into words through dance and body movements, they generally experience a better sense of well-being and assist their therapists in improving their treatment progress.

A decade prior to the publication of this report, Swedish researchers had already published their findings on the advantages of group dance as a means to enhance Alzheimer’s conditions. The researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden highlighted that dance plays a significant role in improving Alzheimer’s patients by creating positive emotions and fostering connections among individuals.

Although dance has historical roots as an art form among various cultures, it was introduced as a therapeutic method in the 1950s by Marian Chace. Chace, who suffered from back pain due to an injury in her youth, pursued physical movements as advised by her treating physician to strengthen her back muscles. However, her passion for dance led her to the Denishawn Dance School in New York and later to hospitals to aid in the recovery of World War II veterans.

What was previously the focus of Marianne Chis’s treatment programs and is now followed as a therapeutic approach is the emergence of deep personal feelings through body language. Describing mental conditions in this way becomes significant for those suffering from depression, as expressing the roots of depression in writing is often not feasible for many patients.

Report producers in Finland state that people in this country have gradually moved away from activities such as sports and dancing over time, leading to a reduction in the positive effects of physical activity. Reasons cited for the decline in sports and dance activities include lifestyle changes and an increased reliance on cars. The report indicates that comparisons between different generations of Finns show that the elderly in this country, who led more active lifestyles, are healthier than the current generation. This lack of physical activity and reduced social interaction have contributed to widespread depression among Finns.

Finnish researchers note in their report that a significant point in their experiments is that patients with depression who did not respond to conventional drug treatments experienced much better levels of happiness and relief from depression when undergoing two sessions of dance therapy per week for three months.

Hamayoun Khairy December 21

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