RESEARCH

A Systematic Review of Randomised Controlled Trials on the Effectiveness of Ecotherapy Interventions for Treating Mental Disorders

A systematic review of 18 randomized controlled trials suggests that ecotherapy interventions, including environmental and animal-assisted therapies, may be effective in reducing symptoms of various mental disorders.

Program Types: Therapeutic

Population Groups: Mental Health Challenges/Trauma

Setting or Context: Community Gardens, Natural Areas/Parks/Forest

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Improved Mental Health, Improved Stress Management, Increased Social Engagement & Skills, Improved Quality of Life

Allied Profession Intersections: Forest/Ecotherapy

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

Evidence Type: Meta-Analyses/Systematic Reviews, Randomized Controlled Trials, Qualitative Research

Measurement and Evaluation: Metrics for Mental Health, Program Effectiveness

Access: Free

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Summary

This systematic review investigated the effectiveness of ecotherapy interventions for treating mental disorders by analyzing randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Inclusion criteria focused on RCTs comparing environmental therapy (e.g., gardening, forest therapy) and animal-assisted therapy to control groups or alternative interventions for individuals 18 years or older with a DSM-defined psychiatric disorder. Primary outcomes included treatment efficacy, symptom severity, and dropout rates, while secondary outcomes assessed self-efficacy, perceived control, hope, quality of life, life skills, and coping.

From an initial pool of 2415 reports, 18 RCTs met the inclusion criteria, comprising eight environmental therapy trials and ten animal-assisted therapy trials. Qualitative analysis of these studies suggested that both environmental and animal-assisted therapies are efficacious in reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, substance-related and addictive disorders, schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, and trauma/stress-related disorders.

Link

T. Williams, G.C. Barnwell, D.J. Stein. (2020). A Systematic Review of Randomised Controlled Trials on the Effectiveness of Ecotherapy Interventions for Treating Mental Disorders

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