Effects of dance/movement therapy on the psychological distress in breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy experience symptoms of psychological distress, which may significantly affect their daily functioning, quality of life during treatment, and illness prognosis. There is a need for an integrated therapeutic intervention for the patients. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: This research study aimed to examine the effects of dance/movement therapy on psychological distress in Chinese breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. METHODOLOGY: This study was a randomized control trial. A 90-minute dance/movement therapy program was offered to the intervention group twice weekly for 3 weeks. The intervention comprised a physical and a psychotherapeutic component based on the humanistic client-centered approach with an emphasis on mutual support, stress management, and self-understanding. RESEARCH METHODS: A total of 138 breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy (mean age = 48.9 years, SD = 8.3) was recruited from community cancer support centers and randomized into the intervention group (N = 68) or the waitlist control group (N = 70). Participants filled in a self-report questionnaire at baseline and 3-week follow-up. Psychological distress was measured with the Perceived Stress Scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Latent growth modeling was used to model the change in perceived stress, anxiety, and depression across the two time points between two groups. RESULTS: Controlling for confounders such as demographic characteristics and health behaviors, the intervention group reported a significant decrease in perceived stress relative to the waitlist control group (group x time effect = -1.36, standard error (SE) = 0.60, p < .05). No significant differences were observed for anxiety (group x time effect = -0.10, SE = 0.39, p > .05) and depression (group x time effect = -0.46, SE = 0.43, p > .05). DISCUSSIONS: The results suggested that dance/movement psychotherapy may have therapeutic effects in reducing the perceived stress among breast cancer patients receiving radiotherapy.