Modified African Ngoma Healing Ceremony for Stress Reduction: A Pilot Study.
Ava LaVonne Vinesett, Riitta Rutanen Whaley, Cheryl L. Woods-Giscombé, Paul Dennis, Medina Johnson, Yin Li, Pline Mounzeo, Mabiba Baegne, Kenneth H Wilson
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine October 1, 2017 DOI: 10.1089/acm.2016.0410 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 21 |
| Population | Women |
| Interventions | Modified ngoma ceremony Mindfulness-based stress reduction |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, 1-month follow-up |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Indigenous medicine Stress–psychological |
| Key points | Both the modified ngoma ceremony and MBSR led to improvements in depression, anxiety, emotional well-being, and social functioning, with Ngoma showing effects comparable to MBSR. |
Abstract
Indigenous people's ceremonies using rhythm and dance have been used for countless generations throughout the world for healing, conflict resolution, social bonding, and spiritual experience. A previous study reported that a ceremony based on the Central African ngoma tradition was favorably received by a group of Americans. The present trial compared the effects of the modified ngoma ceremony (Ngoma) with those of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in a randomized pilot study. Twenty-one women were randomized to either Ngoma or MBSR. Both groups had sessions on a weekly basis for 8 weeks and completed questionnaires at baseline, week 8, and 1 month after the intervention. Participants completed questionnaires, which included self-report of depressive and anxiety symptoms, health status (e.g., quality of life and functioning), social bonding, and perception of the credibility of the two interventions. Both groups showed improvements in depression, anxiety, emotional well being, and social functioning as measured by respective scales. Social bonding also increased in both groups during the study and may be a mechanism for both interventions. Participants found both interventions credible. In this pilot study, Ngoma showed significant and durable beneficial effects comparable to MBSR. The effects of Ngoma and other indigenous rhythm-dance ceremonies on distress and health status in western culture should be investigated in larger clinical studies.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on anxiety, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 4
- Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica April 28, 2011
- Mindfulness-based interventions for people diagnosed with a current episode of an anxiety or depressive disorder: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. PLoS One June 15, 2016
- Effectiveness of Mindfulness-based Therapy for Reducing Anxiety and Depression in Patients With Cancer Medicine November 1, 2015
- Therapeutic Potential of a Drum and Dance Ceremony Based on the African Ngoma Tradition. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine July 14, 2015