RESEARCH

A Long-Term Follow-Up of the Efficacy of Nature-Based Therapy for Adults Suffering from Stress-Related Illnesses on Levels of Healthcare Consumption and Sick-Leave Absence: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Adults with stress-related illnesses showed significant reductions in doctor visits and sick leave after both Nacadia® nature-based therapy (NNBT) and cognitive behavioural therapy (STreSS). The study suggests NNBT is as effective as cognitive behavioural therapy for long-term improvement in these outcomes.

Program Types: Therapeutic

Population Groups: Burnout/Workplace Stress

Setting or Context: Hospitals/Clinics, Public/Botanical Gardens

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Improved Mental Health, Improved Stress Management, Faster Recovery Times, Longevity & Aging Well

Allied Profession Intersections: Counselling

Type of Activity: Outdoor Gardening, Mindfulness/Visualizations

Evidence Type: Randomized Controlled Trials, Quantitative Research

Measurement and Evaluation: Metrics for Mental Health, Metrics for Physical Health, Patient-Reported Outcomes, Program Effectiveness, Longitudinal Studies

Research Source: Academic Journals

Access: Free

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Summary

This randomized controlled trial investigated the long-term effectiveness of Nacadia® nature-based therapy (NNBT) compared to cognitive behavioural therapy (STreSS) for adults experiencing stress-related illnesses. Eighty-four participants, all incapacitated from work for at least three months and diagnosed with adjustment disorder and/or reaction to severe stress, were randomly assigned to either NNBT or STreSS. NNBT involved three-hour sessions three times a week for ten weeks in a therapy garden and included individual therapeutic conversations based on cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness exercises, gardening activities, relaxation time, and homework. STreSS consisted of 20 individual one-hour cognitive behavioural therapy sessions over ten weeks.

To assess long-term impacts, data on sick leave (from employment or unemployment) and the number of contacts with a general practitioner were extracted from national databases for the 12 months before and after the treatments. Both NNBT and STreSS led to significant decreases in the number of contacts with a doctor and in long-term sick leave. This suggests that NNBT is a valid and effective treatment for stress-related illnesses, demonstrating comparable long-term benefits to cognitive behavioural therapy.

Link

Corazon, S.S., Nyed, P.K., Sidenius, U. et al. (2018). A long-term follow-up of the efficacy of nature- based therapy for adults suffering from stress-related illnesses on levels of healthcare consumption and sick-leave absence: A randomized controlled trial. Int J Environ Res Public Health., 15(1), 137.

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