Utilization, Delivery, and Outcomes of Dance/Movement Therapy for Pediatric Oncology Patients and their Caregivers: A Retrospective Chart Review.

Children with cancer and their caregivers face physical and psychosocial challenges during and after treatment. Dance/movement therapy (DMT) has been used to improve well-being, promote healthy coping, and mitigate the impact of illness, but limited knowledge exists regarding DMT utilization, delivery, and outcomes in pediatric oncology. This retrospective study aimed to identify reasons for referral to DMT, DMT visit characteristics, key DMT techniques and processes, and clinician-reported outcomes. We examined the electronic medical records of 100 randomly selected pediatric patients (resulting in 1160 visits) who received DMT services between 2011 and 2021. Sociodemographic, clinical, and visit characteristics, referral reasons, and clinician-reported outcomes were reported as frequency and proportions. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to identify key DMT techniques and processes. Among 100 patients (63% female, aged 0-27 years), 77.9% were referred for psychological distress and 19.6% for pain. Two distinct DMT approaches were used during visits: a traditional DMT approach (77%) and a multisensory DMT approach (23%). The most common visit length was 15-25 min (41.6%), followed by sessions of 30-45 min (22.5%) and ≤10 min (18.1%). A total of 61.9% of DMT visits were inpatient and 38.1% outpatient. Of all visits, 8.8% were new and 91.2% were follow-ups. Caregivers were engaged in treatment in 43.7% of visits, and 5.5% of visits focused entirely on the work with the caregiver. DMT intervention focused on self-expression, emotional self-regulation, coping strategies, socialization, and caregiver-child interaction. Clinician-reported outcomes included enhanced coping with hospital experience (58%), improved pain management (27%), improved self-regulation (21%), and increased physical activation (13.2%). The results suggest DMT as a supportive intervention for psychological distress and pain management in pediatric oncology patients and provide insights into DMT practices and outcomes to guide intervention development and future research.

Abstracts from the 2022 Research and Thesis Poster Session of the 57th Annual American Dance Therapy Association Conference, Renewed Connections: Dance/Movement Therapy Fostering Community Healing, October 27-30, 2022.

We are honored to present this collection of abstracts from the Research and Thesis Poster Session of the 57th American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) Conference in Montreal, Canada held from October 27-30, 2022. This paper features eleven abstracts that showcase the latest research in dance therapy from various perspectives and approaches. These abstracts were selected and curated by Research and Practice committee members, Karolina Bryl, Cecilia Fontanesi, and Chevon Stewart, who were responsible for organizing the Research and Thesis Poster Session. The Research and Thesis Poster Session is a vital component of the ADTA Conference, providing a platform for researchers and practitioners to share their work, exchange ideas, and connect with colleagues. The abstracts presented in this paper offer insights into a broad range of topics, including the use of dance therapy in clinical and community settings, the integration of technology in dance therapy, and the examination of cultural and social factors that impact the practice of dance therapy. We hope this collection of abstracts will inspire and inform future research in dance therapy, and we extend our appreciation to all the presenters for their contributions.

Addressing cancer-related fatigue through sleep: A secondary analysis of a randomized trial comparing acupuncture and cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia.

Background: Fatigue is a troublesome symptom in cancer survivors that often results from disrupted sleep. We sought to assess whether two insomnia-focused non-pharmacological interventions are also effective for improving fatigue. Methods: We analyzed data from a randomized clinical trial comparing cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) versus acupuncture for insomnia among cancer survivors. Participants were 109 patients who reported insomnia and moderate or worse fatigue. Interventions were delivered over eight weeks. Fatigue was evaluated at baseline, week 8, and week 20 using the Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory-Short Form (MFSI-SF). We used both mediation analysis and t-tests to explore the extent to which fatigue reduction was attributable to insomnia response. Results: Compared to baseline, both CBT-I and acupuncture produced significant reductions in total MFSI-SF scores at week 8 (-17.1 points; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -21.1 to -13.1, and -13.2 points; 95% CI: -17.2 to -9.2, respectively, all p<0.001) and week 20 (-14.6 points; 95% CI: -18.6 to -10.6, and -14.2 points; 95% CI: -18.1 to -10.3. respectively, all p<0.001), with no significant between-group differences. MFSI-SF total scores at week 8 were significantly associated with sleep improvements in both CBT-I and acupuncture groups (p<0.001 and p=0.011, respectively). Insomnia responders demonstrated significantly greater improvements in mean MFSI-SF total scores compared with non-responders in the CBT-I group (p=0.016) but not in the acupuncture group. Conclusion: CBT-I and acupuncture produced similar, clinically meaningful, and durable fatigue reductions in cancer survivors with insomnia, primarily through improvements in sleep. Acupuncture may also reduce fatigue through additional pathways.

Abstracts from the 2021 Research and Thesis Poster Session of the 56th Annual American Dance Therapy Association Conference, Dance/Movement Therapy: Ancient Healing, Modern Practice, Virtual Conference, October 14-17, 2021.

The Research and Practice Committee of the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) presents the research and thesis poster session at each annual conference. The abstracts reported in this paper were selected by the authors for the 2021 Virtual Research and Thesis Poster Session at the 56th Annual ADTA Conference. This year, the 56th Annual ADTA conference took place online, on a virtual platform, and Research and Thesis Poster Session featured two themes: (1) DMT Towards building Resiliency; and (2) DMT Insights from Practice. The following six abstracts have been selected for their quality and contributions to dance/movement therapy literature and feature a wide range of scholarly works in current research.

The role of dance/movement therapy in the treatment of negative symptoms in schizophrenia: a mixed methods pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Optimizing psychosocial functioning by reducing the severity of negative symptoms are important outcomes for individuals with schizophrenia. Movement-based interventions could be uniquely capable of addressing the non-verbal nature of negative symptoms. AIMS: To examine the treatment effects of a 10-week group dance/movement therapy program on negative symptoms and psychosocial functioning of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. METHODS: A mixed methods intervention design (with explanatory intent) was used in which a randomized controlled trial was followed by semi-structured exit interviews. Participants diagnosed with schizophrenia (N = 31) were randomized to two conditions: treatment as usual (TAU) and dance/movement therapy (DMT). Before and after the program participants reported on negative symptoms and psychosocial functioning outcomes. Fifteen participants completed interviews. RESULTS: Quantitative data showed no improvement nor worsening of clinical status in the DMT group. Qualitative data suggested that participation in DMT had a physical impact, resulted in enhanced interpersonal connectivity, sense of integration, emotional support, and symptom management. CONCLUSIONS: Qualitative but not quantitative findings suggest that DMT has potential to enhance psychosocial functioning and to reduce severity of negative symptoms for schizophrenia.