Dancing and having a “little kitchen disco” can be an effective cure for depression, according to a psychologist.

A study on a group of people with Parkinson’s who did dancing sessions over ten weeks found they had positive changes in their mood afterwards.

Interestingly, a control group without Parkinson’s also noted improvements in their mood after the study was complete.

On Newstalk Breakfast today, psychologist Dr Peter Lovatt said he conducted the study as he was sceptical about the links between dance and mood.

“Before I did this, I was a scientist and as a scientist, when research came out that dancing was good for people, I was sceptical,” he said.

“I thought, ‘How could it be the case that something as simple as dancing could be good for people's mental health and wellbeing?'

“So, we set up a laboratory and we tested it over and over again over years and years and we found, scientifically, that dancing does have a positive impact on people's depression, their mood, and how they feel about themselves.”

An old couple dancing outside. Image: Robert Kneschke / Alamy Stock Photo

Dr Lovatt, who is now known as Dr Dance, said there are four different types of dances that each have a unique effect on people.

“One is the social engagement, the second is to do with our thinking and problem solving, the third is about your emotions and the fourth is your physical makeup,” he said.

“Lots of different dance styles will focus on those areas.”

'Feel the groove'

Dr Lovatt, who heads the Dance Psychology Lab at the University of Hertfordshire, said improvised dancing can change patterns of thought.

“It stimulates your thinking in lots of ways as we can find it hard to improvise, feel the grove and let our bodies move – but it’s fantastic for treating anxiety and depression,” he said.

“It helps you break away from set patterns of thinking and as we know from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, the key to treating depression is changing the way you think and reframing your thinking.

“It’s difficult, but we found that by using your body in an improvised way, it’s easier than to be more divergent in your thinking and to think differently.”

A couple dance in their kitchen. Image: Wavebreak Media ltd / Alamy Stock Photo

Dr Dance said people should “have a little boogie” wherever they are.

“Some people feel self-conscious doing it in front of other people so you could have a little kitchen disco,” he said.

“I’m in a hotel room right now grooving away and it's making me smile.

“You can do it in the car - wherever you like - and then you don’t feel self-conscious.”

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Main image: A group of women dancing. Image: Rightdisc / Alamy Stock Photo