Dance movement therapy and sound-based interventions for adult mental health: a systematic review

Music and sound often accompany Dance Movement Therapy (DMT), helping to shape rhythm, emotional expression, relational engagement, and movement exploration. Yet studies do not always distinguish music used within ordinary DMT practice from a separately planned therapeutic sound intervention. This review examined primary studies involving adults who received DMT, sound-based interventions, or an intentional combination of both, and asked whether sound provided benefit beyond DMT alone. Six databases were searched for English- and Indonesian-language studies published between 2020 and 2025. Eligible studies reported validated mental health outcomes and were evaluated using methods appropriate to their design. Four reports representing three unique studies were included: three DMT reports representing two studies and one music therapy report. No included study tested intentional combined delivery or isolated the added contribution of sound. The evidence remains limited, and direct comparative studies are needed before additive or synergistic benefits can be claimed with clinical confidence.