Effects of Dance Movement Therapy on Adult Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

This study examines the effects of dance movement therapy (DMT) on empathy for adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). DMT based on the embodiment approach offers body-centered interventions, such as mirroring techniques, to address the needs of ASD patients. Accordingly, findings of a feasibility study suggest that DMT may be an effective approach for clients on the ASD spectrum. The present study is a randomized controlled trial that was conducted as a multicenter study within the framework of the EU-funded research project TESIS (Toward an Embodied Science of Intersubjectivity), and employed a two-factorial between-subject design. The treatment group (n = 35) participated in a 10-week manualized DMT intervention, whereas the control group (n = 22) received treatment only after a waiting period. Empathy, measured with the Cognitive and Emotional Empathy Questionnaire (CEEQ), was the main variable of interest, analyzed by a repeated measures analysis of variance. In order to also include incomplete data cases, we used the expectation-maximization algorithm for missing data estimation. Results suggest no significant changes in overall empathy between groups. We discuss the results and limitations, as well as future research options.

Towards a neurocognitive approach to dance movement therapy for mental health: A systematic review

“…In line with Mastrominico et al (2018), Koch, Mehl, Sobanski, Sieber, and Fuchs (2015) conducted a feasibility study with an interest in the specific effects of mirroring in movement on well‐being, body awareness, self‐other distinction, social competence and empathy in young adults with ASD. Participants in the intervention group, which included dyadic movement exercises and verbal processing, showed significant improvements with medium to large effect sizes in body awareness ( d = 0.62), self‐other awareness ( d = 0.72), psychological well‐being ( d = 0.68) and social skills ( d = 0.67).…”

“…Although the results did not reach statistical significance at the conventional 0.05 level, they suggested a positive trend towards increased reduction of symptoms in the group receiving the DMT intervention relative to the control group. Mastrominico et al (2018) conducted another RCT examining the effects of DMT on adult patients with ASD after a 10‐week manualized DMT intervention but observed no significant effects. The measure of interest was empathy.…”

“…This could open a whole other avenue of research in terms of group effects and the impact of social interaction. Further, the inclusion of follow‐up measures Pylvänäinen et al, 2015; Rohricht & Priebe, 2006; Mastrominico et al, 2018; Röhricht et al, 2019) as common practice will also allow for a better understanding of whether or not DMT or BPT can produce positive, lasting effects on symptom reduction.…”

“…Sessions consisted of the Chace-Circle, mirroring, where participants both imitated and led each other in their movements, and verbal processing to discuss feelings and thoughts on the session. Although the results did not reach statistical significance at the conventional 0.05 level, they suggested a positive trend towards increased reduction of symptoms in the group receiving the DMT intervention relative to the control group Mastrominico et al (2018). conducted another RCT examining the effects of DMT on adult patients with ASD after a 10-week manualized DMT intervention but observed no significant effects.…”

The Potential Benefits of Dance Movement Therapy in Improving Couple Relations of Individuals Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder—A Review

“…Studies examining the contribution of DMT with adults diagnosed with ASD have found that their ability to synchronize in open and free movement is limited compared to TD but not completely impaired, and researchers recommend using these tools to develop the social skills of empathic tendency, emotional recognition, and affective engagement (Brezis et al, 2017 ). Studies, respectively, show that the practice of mirroring, synchronization, rhythm, and reciprocity in movement contributes to social involvement, body awareness (DeJesus et al, 2020 ), emotional engagement, rapport, and intersubjective communication (Delafield-Butt et al, 2020 ), emotional empathy (Mastrominico et al, 2018 ), and the expression of emotions (Takahashi et al, 2019 ). Several studies in the field describe the effect of 1-h intervention per 6 weeks on regulation, imitation, and interaction (Mateos-Moreno and Atencia-Doña, 2013 ), for 7 weeks on improvement in psychological well-being, body awareness, self-other awareness, and social skills (Koch et al, 2015 ), for 8 weeks on the ability to form relationships (Edwards, 2015 ), and for 10 weeks on emotional expression (Hildebrandt et al, 2016 ), body image (Koch et al, 2016 ), and cognitive empathy (Koehne et al, 2016b ).…”