RESEARCH
Effects of Horticultural Therapy on Symptoms and Future Perspective of Patients with Schizophrenia in the Chronic Stage
Summary
This study explored whether horticultural therapy (HT)—a type of therapy that involves gardening—could help improve symptoms and emotional outlook in people with chronic schizophrenia. Researchers worked with 23 long-term hospital patients and divided them into two groups. One group received their usual occupational therapy (OT), while the other group received both OT and weekly gardening sessions for three months. The sessions included planting, caring for vegetables, and eventually harvesting and eating them, which was designed to give patients a sense of purpose and hope.
The results showed that the group who participated in horticultural therapy experienced a significant reduction in symptoms related to depression and anxiety. However, there were no noticeable improvements in their overall quality of life or their sense of hope for the future. The researchers believe that factors like long-term hospitalization and strong medications might have limited the full impact of the therapy. Still, the study suggests that gardening could be a helpful addition to existing treatments to improve emotional well-being in people with schizophrenia.
