Dance/movement therapy in psychotic disorders and eating disorders: a systematic review

Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) is a body-oriented form of creative arts therapy that uses movement and embodied awareness to support emotional regulation and psychosocial functioning. Interest in embodied and non-verbal interventions has increased in psychiatry, particularly for disorders characterized by disturbances in bodily experience and affect regulation, such as psychotic disorders and eating disorders (EDs). However, evidence on DMT remains fragmented and is often embedded within broader research on creative arts therapies.

This systematic review aimed to synthesize and critically evaluate the available evidence on DMT as an adjunctive intervention in psychiatric populations, with particular focus on psychotic disorders and EDs.

A systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE was conducted for studies published in English between January 2016 and December 2025. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, non-randomized or quasi-experimental studies, observational designs, and qualitative or mixed methods investigations involving adolescents or adults with psychotic disorders or EDs receiving DMT-based interventions. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2 and ROBINS-I tools. Due to methodological heterogeneity, findings were synthesized narratively.

Twelve studies met inclusion criteria. Across diagnostic groups, DMT was most consistently associated with improvements in embodied and psychosocial domains, including bodily awareness, emotional expression, and social functioning. In psychotic disorders, DMT was linked to improvements in negative symptoms, social engagement, and physical functioning when integrated into treatment as usual. Evidence in ED populations was more limited but suggested potential benefits for body image, emotional regulation, alexithymia, and subjective well-being. Qualitative findings highlighted increased emotional awareness, sense of agency, and relational attunement. Substantial heterogeneity in study design, intervention characteristics, and outcome measures limited causal inference.

Current evidence suggests that DMT may represent a promising adjunctive intervention in psychiatric care, particularly for addressing embodied and relational dimensions of psychopathology. However, conclusions regarding efficacy remain tentative due to methodological limitations and variable study quality. Future research should prioritize well-designed controlled trials, standardized reporting of DMT protocols, and outcome measures sensitive to embodied change, with greater attention to underrepresented populations such as individuals with EDs.

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD420261279779.