RESEARCH

Therapeutic Horticulture as a Therapeutic Intervention in Patients Receiving Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder

A study examined whether adding gardening sessions to standard depression treatment in a hospital improved outcomes for patients. Results showed both groups improved similarly in depression symptoms.

Program Types: Therapeutic

Population Groups: Mental Health Challenges/Trauma

Setting or Context: Hospitals/Clinics

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Improved Mental Health, Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Improved Physical Health, Increased Social Engagement & Skills

Allied Profession Intersections: Recreational Therapy, Counselling

Type of Activity: Outdoor Gardening, Nature-Based Arts & Crafts, Environmental Education

Evidence Type: Peer-Reviewed Studies

Measurement and Evaluation: Metrics for Physical Health, Standardized Assessment Tools, Program Effectiveness

Access: Free

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Summary

This study looked at whether adding gardening activities could help improve mood and quality of life for patients with severe depression who were receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in a hospital. The researchers divided patients into two groups – one group participated in gardening sessions twice a week in addition to their usual treatment, while the other group just received the standard treatment. Both groups filled out questionnaires about their depression symptoms and quality of life at the beginning and end of the study.

The results showed that both groups improved significantly in their depression symptoms over the course of treatment. However, adding the gardening activities didn’t seem to make a big difference in depression scores compared to just getting the standard treatment. Interestingly, the group that did gardening showed some improvement in their ability to handle physical tasks in daily life, while the other group got slightly worse in this area. Overall, the study suggests that while gardening activities may have some benefits, they didn’t dramatically improve depression symptoms beyond the effects of the main treatment.

Link

Korah, T., Morrison, D., Mason, D., Diehl, E. R., & Bussing, R. (2021). Therapeutic horticulture as a therapeutic intervention in patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) treatment for major depressive disorder. Cureus.

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