The effects of forest therapy on depression and anxiety in patients with chronic stroke

Abstract

Objective: To assess whether forest therapy is effective for treating depression and anxiety in patients with chronic stroke by using several psychological tests. We measured reactive oxygen metabolite (d-ROM) levels and biological antioxidant potentials (BAPs) associated with psychological stress. Methods: Fifty-nine patients with chronic stroke were randomly assigned to either a forest group (staying at a recreational forest site) or to an urban group (staying in an urban hotel); the duration and activities performed by both groups were the same. Scores on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D17), Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), d-ROMs and BAPs were evaluated both before and after the treatment programs. Results: In the forest group, BDI, HAM-D17 and STAI scores were significantly lower following treatment, and BAPs were significantly higher than baseline. In the urban group, STAI scores were significantly higher following treatment. Moreover, BDI, HAM-D17 and STAI scores of the forest group were significantly lower, and BAPs were significantly higher following treatment (ANCOVA, p <0.05). Conclusion: Forest therapy is beneficial for treating depression and anxiety symptoms in patients with chronic stroke, and may be particularly useful in patients who cannot be treated with standard pharmacological or electroconvulsive therapies.

KEYWORDS:

• forest therapy
• stroke
• depression
• anxiety

Acknowledgements

The research was supported by the R & D Program for Forestry Technology (project no. S211214L010130), which is administered by the Korean Forest Service. M.H. Chun and M.C. Chang contributed equally to this study.

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

R & D Program for Forestry Technology [project number S211214L010130].