RESEARCH
Horticultural Therapy as an Intervention for Schizophrenia: A Review
Summary
This review paper looked at whether horticultural therapy (HT)—using gardening as a form of therapy—can help people living with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia often affects not just mental health but also social skills, thinking ability, emotions, and everyday functioning. The review included five studies that used HT in different settings, such as hospitals and day programs, and found that gardening activities like planting, harvesting, or making crafts could support improvement in several areas. Participants showed progress in communication, self-esteem, social interaction, and work-related skills like staying on task or following instructions.
Even though each study was done differently, and some lacked detailed information, all of them showed that horticultural therapy helped in more than one area—especially reducing anxiety and depression, increasing motivation, and improving focus and memory. Some studies even showed physical signs of relaxation, like lowered heart rate. Because HT can support many types of improvement in one setting, it may be a helpful, cost-effective alternative or addition to traditional treatments for schizophrenia. However, the paper also recommends that future studies be better designed so we can more confidently understand how and why horticultural therapy works.
