Academic Resources
Drama Therapy Research
Journals, databases, landmark studies, and the evidence base for drama therapy across populations and settings.
Journals, databases, landmark studies, and the evidence base for drama therapy across populations and settings.
Drama therapy has a growing peer-reviewed evidence base across PTSD, anxiety, depression, autism spectrum conditions, dementia, and substance use disorders. The main journals are Drama Therapy Review (NADTA), Dramatherapy (BADTh), and The Arts in Psychotherapy (Elsevier). Strongest evidence currently sits in trauma work with veterans (Developmental Transformations, David Read Johnson at the National Center for PTSD), social anxiety in autistic adolescents (Hod Orkibi), and cognitive function in dementia care.
The official peer-reviewed journal of the North American Drama Therapy Association (NADTA), published by Intellect Books. Drama Therapy Review publishes original research, theoretical papers, clinical case studies, and reflective practice articles covering all aspects of drama therapy. Free access for NADTA members; available through institutional library subscriptions.
Published by Elsevier, The Arts in Psychotherapy is the leading international peer-reviewed journal covering all five creative arts therapies: art therapy, music therapy, drama therapy, dance/movement therapy, and poetry therapy. It regularly publishes drama therapy research and is widely available through university library databases including PsycINFO and ScienceDirect.
The journal of the British Association of Dramatherapists (BADTh), Dramatherapy publishes clinical and theoretical articles from UK and international drama therapy practitioners. A valuable complement to NADTA's journal for understanding the British tradition of the field.
A broader journal covering applied arts across health, education, and community contexts, including drama therapy, community theatre, participatory arts, and health humanities. Useful for drama therapists working at the intersection of arts and public health.
For systematic searching of drama therapy literature:
Drama therapy has one of its strongest evidence bases in trauma treatment. Research by David Read Johnson and colleagues at the National Center for PTSD has demonstrated the effectiveness of Developmental Transformations with combat veterans. Key findings:
Key researchers: David Read Johnson, Nisha Sajnani, Adam Blatner
Drama therapy research with autistic individuals focuses on social communication, emotional regulation, and self-expression. Studies have shown:
Key researchers: Hod Orkibi (Haifa University, Israel), Anna Chesner (UK)
Drama therapy with people living with dementia, particularly reminiscence theatre and life review, has demonstrated:
Drama therapy with young people has the broadest research base, covering:
Research has demonstrated drama therapy's value in addiction recovery settings, particularly for:
The ProQuest Dissertations & Theses database is the most comprehensive source for doctoral and master's research in drama therapy. Many significant developments in the field have been documented in graduate theses before appearing in peer-reviewed journals. Search "drama therapy" or "dramatherapy" for a substantial body of qualitative and quantitative research.
Andsdell & Pavlicevic, Cruz & Feder, Grainger, Johnson Pendzik & Snow, Miller, Payne, Snow & D'Amico, see the research section for the canonical research-methods literature.
Yes. Drama therapy has a growing evidence base with peer-reviewed research supporting its effectiveness for PTSD and trauma, anxiety (especially social anxiety), depression, autism spectrum conditions, dementia, substance use disorders, and children's emotional and behavioral difficulties. Key research hubs include NYU Steinhardt's drama therapy program and the National Center for PTSD (Veterans Affairs).
The primary journals for drama therapy research are Drama Therapy Review (NADTA's official journal), The Arts in Psychotherapy (Elsevier, the most widely indexed journal covering all creative arts therapies), and Dramatherapy (BADTh's journal). The Arts in Psychotherapy is most accessible through university library databases including PsycINFO and ScienceDirect.
Leading drama therapy researchers include: Renée Emunah (Integrative Five Phase Model, CIIS), Robert Landy (Role Theory, NYU), Nisha Sajnani (trauma-informed drama therapy, NYU), Hod Orkibi (social anxiety and drama therapy, Israel), Anna Chesner (group drama therapy, UK), and David Read Johnson (DvT and trauma, National Center for PTSD). The field spans North American and British research traditions.
For systematic literature searches on drama therapy: PsycINFO (most comprehensive for psychological research, use terms 'drama therapy,' 'dramatherapy,' 'psychodrama'), CINAHL (nursing and allied health), MEDLINE/PubMed (medical and clinical settings), ERIC (educational settings), and Google Scholar (broad search including dissertations). The ProQuest Dissertations database is valuable for graduate-level research not yet published in journals.