Outcome of Basic Body Awareness Therapy. A Randomized Controlled Study of Patients in Psychiatric Outpatient Care

Abstract

The aim was to study the outcome of Basic Body Awareness Therapy (Basic BAT) added to treatment as usual (TAU) compared to TAU only, for patients with mood, somatoform or personality disorders in psychiatric outpatient services. Seventy-seven patients were randomized to Basic BAT and TAU (n=38) or TAU only (n=39). Patients were assessed at baseline and after 12 sessions of Basic BAT, 3 months after baseline. At the termination of Basic BAT sessions, patients receiving Basic BAT in addition to TAU showed significant improvements concerning the quality of movements using the Body Awareness Scale–Health (BAS-H), and psychiatric symptoms and attitudes towards body and movement using the Body Awareness Scale interview, compared to the TAU-only patients. A significant improvement in favour of the patients receiving Basic BAT was also shown with regard to self-efficacy, physical coping resources and sleep. Age and sex showed no significant influence on outcome. The results indicate that Basic BAT in addition to TAU, in a relatively short intervention period improves the body awareness and attitude towards the body as well as self-efficacy, sleep and physical coping resources compared to TAU only. This study indicates a positive short-term outcome of the Basic BAT treatment. However, studies of the long-term outcome remain to be undertaken.