Rhythmic dance interventions and dance/movement therapy for depression and anxiety: a structured narrative review of clinical evidence, candidate mechanisms, and implementation considerations
4 affiliations
- 1School of Music and Dance, South-Central Minzu University
- 2Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, Hubei Maternal and Child Health Hospital
- 3International Center for Redox Biology and Precision Medicine of Hubei Province, Hubei University of Technology
- 4Department of Basic Sciences, Wenhua College
Abstract
Background: This review synthesized evidence on rhythmic dance interventions (RDI) and dance/movement therapy (DMT) for depression and anxiety, clarified intervention boundaries, and proposed mechanism-informed and implementation-oriented recommendations.
Methods: A structured narrative review was conducted using targeted literature searches of PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library from inception to 11 September 2026, supplemented by citation tracing. Sources were selected for relevance to clinical evidence, candidate mechanisms, intervention reporting, safety considerations, and implementation issues. The review was designed as a narrative and translational synthesis rather than a systematic review or meta-analysis.
Results: Current evidence suggests that DMT and structured RDI may be associated with improvements in depressive symptoms, anxiety-related distress, stress, quality of life, and psychosocial functioning, although the evidence is heterogeneous and the most direct clinical evidence concerns DMT in adults with depression. Candidate mechanisms include rhythmic entrainment, behavioral activation, reward engagement, emotion regulation, interoceptive and autonomic regulation, social connectedness, and interpersonal co-regulation. However, direct mediation evidence is still insufficient, and key intervention features such as rhythm, synchrony, movement structure, interpersonal configuration, and reflective processing should be treated as reportable and potentially modifiable components rather than validated therapeutic dose parameters.
Conclusions: RDI and DMT may represent promising complementary approaches for depression and anxiety, but they are not interchangeable and should not be regarded as substitutes for psychiatric, psychological, or medical care. Clearer intervention taxonomy, FITT + 3R reporting framework, mechanism-informed outcomes, adverse-event monitoring, and further evaluation of safety and implementation are needed to support responsible translation into healthcare and community settings.
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BibTeX
@article{chen2026rhythmic,
title = {{Rhythmic dance interventions and dance/movement therapy for depression and anxiety: a structured narrative review of clinical evidence, candidate mechanisms, and implementation considerations}},
author = {Xiaopeng Chen and Ting Wang and Jun Wang and Jing Tan},
journal = {Frontiers in Psychiatry},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1944858},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1944858/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Rhythmic dance interventions and dance/movement therapy for depression and anxiety: a structured narrative review of clinical evidence, candidate mechanisms, and implementation considerations
AU - Xiaopeng Chen
AU - Ting Wang
AU - Jun Wang
AU - Jing Tan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/19
JO - Frontiers in Psychiatry
DO - 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1944858
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1944858/full
AB - Background: This review synthesized evidence on rhythmic dance interventions (RDI) and dance/movement therapy (DMT) for depression and anxiety, clarified intervention boundaries, and proposed mechanism-informed and implementation-oriented recommendations. Methods: A structured narrative review was conducted using targeted literature searches of PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library from inception to 11 September 2026, supplemented by citation tracing. Sources were selected for relevance to clinical evidence, candidate mechanisms, intervention reporting, safety considerations, and implementation issues. The review was designed as a narrative and translational synthesis rather than a systematic review or meta-analysis. Results: Current evidence suggests that DMT and structured RDI may be associated with improvements in depressive symptoms, anxiety-related distress, stress, quality of life, and psychosocial functioning, although the evidence is heterogeneous and the most direct clinical evidence concerns DMT in adults with depression. Candidate mechanisms include rhythmic entrainment, behavioral activation, reward engagement, emotion regulation, interoceptive and autonomic regulation, social connectedness, and interpersonal co-regulation. However, direct mediation evidence is still insufficient, and key intervention features such as rhythm, synchrony, movement structure, interpersonal configuration, and reflective processing should be treated as reportable and potentially modifiable components rather than validated therapeutic dose parameters. Conclusions: RDI and DMT may represent promising complementary approaches for depression and anxiety, but they are not interchangeable and should not be regarded as substitutes for psychiatric, psychological, or medical care. Clearer intervention taxonomy, FITT + 3R reporting framework, mechanism-informed outcomes, adverse-event monitoring, and further evaluation of safety and implementation are needed to support responsible translation into healthcare and community settings.
SN - 1664-0640
ER -