RESEARCH

Depression and Anxiety: A Systematic Review on Comparing Ecotherapy with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

This systematic review finds that ecotherapy offers comparable short-term benefits to cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression and potential benefits for anxiety disorders.

Program Types: Therapeutic

Population Groups: Mental Health Challenges/Trauma

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Improved Mental Health, Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Greater Sense of Purpose, Increased Sense of Belonging (Reduced Isolation)

Allied Profession Intersections: Forest/Ecotherapy

Type of Activity: Outdoor Gardening, Forest/Natural Area Immersion

Evidence Type: Peer-Reviewed Studies, Case Studies

Measurement and Evaluation: Metrics for Mental Health, Program Effectiveness

Access: Paid

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Summary

This systematic review examines the effectiveness of ecotherapy, a nature-based intervention, in comparison to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for treating depression and anxiety disorders. The researchers analyzed 42 studies using PRISMA guidelines to evaluate the short-term and long-term outcomes of both therapeutic approaches. For depression, ecotherapy interventions—including activities such as gardening, nature walks, and wilderness therapy—demonstrated similar improvements to CBT in reducing symptoms during the short term. Ecotherapy also showed potential benefits for anxiety disorders, but the data was less robust and insufficient to make definitive comparisons with CBT. The review highlights ecotherapy’s ability to provide therapeutic engagement through connection with nature, which can promote emotional regulation, reduce stress, and improve mood. While ecotherapy appears promising as a complementary or alternative treatment to conventional psychotherapy, particularly for short-term symptom relief, the authors emphasize the need for more high-quality research to better understand its mechanisms and assess its long-term efficacy. They also suggest exploring how ecotherapy could be integrated with established approaches like CBT to enhance mental health care.

Link

Rueff, M., & Reese, G. (2023). Depression and anxiety: A systematic review on comparing ecotherapy with cognitive behavioral therapy. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 90, 102097. Science Direct.

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