Change in body image among depressed adult outpatients after a dance movement therapy group treatment

摘要

This study reports on the body image of depressed psychiatric outpatients, and the impact thereon of a dance movement therapy (DMT) group. Body image is perceived as a tri-partite construct consisting of image-properties, body-self, and body memory. Depressed patients in an outpatient mental health service participated in a DMT group treatment consisting of twelve 90-min long sessions in groups of 4-7 patients. Patients (N=18) responded to a structured Body Image Assessment (BIA) before and after the treatment.