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Single-Session Dance/Movement Therapy for People with Acute Schizophrenia: Development of a Treatment Protocol

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Abstract

People experiencing acute symptomatology associated with schizophrenia require interventions that support stabilization. Dance/movement therapy (DMT) can be a promising treatment option for this population due to the potential for verbal communication difficulties, alternative reality bases, and movement dysfunctions associated with schizophrenia. However, due to the improvisational nature of DMT, it is often difficult to identify the specific interventions or components of the therapeutic process that may support stabilization and symptom reduction. Moreover, as inpatient lengths of stay decrease, it is imperative that we implement shorter treatment protocols. This inquiry analyzed 14 single-session DMT group sessions for people with acute schizophrenia on an inpatient psychiatric unit to determine the components of the DMT process common amongst each session. Data analysis of therapist field notes informed the development of a single-session DMT treatment protocol to outline the four phases of a single-session DMT group: warm-up, thematic development, cool down, and verbal discussion. Results of this inquiry determined that there were repeated components of the 14 sessions. A systematic content analysis of the therapy process is potentially useful for the examination of what may specifically contribute to symptom reduction in DMT groups.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Dr. Sherry Goodill, Dr. Martha Davis, Dr. Joke Bradt, and Dr. Wei Du for their feedback on this dissertation work.

Funding

This study was supported by a grant from the Marian Chace Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Nursing and Health Professions, Creative Arts Therapies, Drexel University, 1601 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19102, USA

    Jacelyn Biondo

  2. Department of Art Education, College of Fine Arts, Florida State University, 1033 William Johnston Building, 143 Honors Way, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA

    Nancy Gerber

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  1. Jacelyn Biondo
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Correspondence to Jacelyn Biondo.

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Biondo, J., Gerber, N. Single-Session Dance/Movement Therapy for People with Acute Schizophrenia: Development of a Treatment Protocol. Am J Dance Ther 42, 277–295 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10465-020-09341-8

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