Eurythmytherapy and mental health

The efficacy of eurythmytherapy is measured before and after normal treatment by questionnaire. EYT-clients are compared to people who are indicated for EYT, but choose not to join EYT. The study aims to ameliorate the indication policy for EYT by physicians, physiotherapists and psychologists and to contribute to evidence-bases.



The Netherlands

1. The augmentation in scores (t2-t1 and t3-t1) is higher for EYT group than control group on the original complaint controlled for other treatment.

2. The augmentation in scores is higher for EYT group than control group on self-determination.

3. The decline in scores is higher for EYT group than control group on sleeping problems.

4. The decline in scores is higher for EYT group than control group on psychopathology.

5. If self-determination score augments, psychopathology score will decline in both groups.

6. Self-determination mediates the negative relation between EYT and psychopathology.

7. People within EYT-group who do accomplish their EYT-exercises five or more days a week, have more decrease in psychopathology score, than people who practice less days a week.

8. People within EYT-group who scored low on self-determination at t1 benefit psychologically most from EYT, expressed by highest decrease in psychopathology score.

9. On which diagnoses is EYT most/least effective?

Intervention group: pre-test, post-test, follow-up (1 month).
Control group: pre-test, post-test after 7 or 8 weeks, follow-up (1 month)

Eurythmytherapy (EYT) is a specific movement therapy used as complementary therapy or monotherapy. EYT is performed in individual therapy sessions of about 25 to 30 minutes duration one or two times a week. Part of the treatment is the instruction to practice the learned EYT-exercises at home for about 10 minutes a day.

The intervention group receives ‘treatment as usual’ containing EYT. The control group receives also ‘treatment as usual’ containing no EYT.



Results are measured by questionnaires: t1 (pretest), t2 (posttest) and t3 (follow-up). Completing a questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes each time.