Nature-based Treatment Group for Depression

NCT04897685 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: JAMKUAS
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 147
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 3

Brief Summary

This multi-centre research investigates the effects of nature-based treatment group on participants diagnosed with depression. In total, 147 persons participated in the study in various locations in Finland. All participants received treatment as usual (TAU). They were randomised into nature-based group + TAU (n = 70) or TAU-only (n = 77). The participants in the nature-based group + TAU were offered 12 sessions once a week in addition to standard care. The measurement points included pre-treatment measurement at the baseline and post-treatment measurement at the end of the intervention, which was 12 weeks after the pre-treatment measurement. The follow-up measurement was 3 months after the post-treatment measurement. The effects of the intervention were assessed with a clinical measure of depression (BDI-I) and with indicators of psychological distress (CORE-10), subjective well-being (SWEMWBS), work/study ability (WAI) and nature experiences (ROS, KOLU). The participants in the treatment group (nature-based group +TAU) were compared to the participants in the control group who received TAU-only.

Conditions

Depression

Keywords

nature-based; therapy group; recovery experiences; nature experiences

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change from baseline depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory; BDI-I) at 12-week post-treatment measurement.

  BDI-I (Beck Depression Inventory - I) measures depressive symptoms with 21 items. Each item is scored 0-3 and sum scores are calculated on the basis of participants' responses. The total sum score can range from 0 to 63 and higher score indicates higher depression.

  12 weeks

• Change from post-treatment depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-I; BDI-I) at three-month follow-up measurement.

  The change in depressive symptoms between the post-treatment measurement at the end of the 12-week intervention and the 3-month follow-up. BDI-I (Beck Depression Inventory - I) measures depressive symptoms with 21 items. Each item is scored 0-3 and sum scores are calculated on the basis of participants' responses. The total sum score can range from 0 to 63 and higher score indicates higher depression.

  3 months

Study Arms (2)

Nature-based treatment group

EXPERIMENTAL

The participants in the treatment group were offered 12 nature-based group therapy sessions in addition to standard care.

Behavioral: Flow with Nature

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

The participants in the control group continued treatment as usual in the health care services.

Interventions

Flow with Nature BEHAVIORAL

Nature-based intervention was facilitated by a health care professional and included 12 x 90 mins sessions within 12 weeks.

Nature-based treatment group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• A diagnoses of depression (ICD -diagnostic system)
• BDI-I score 10 or above
• Treatment contact in a health care service
• Motivated to commit to a 12-session treatment group taking place in nearby nature environments
• Able to communicate adequately in Finnish in order to participate

You may not qualify if:

• Active suicidal ideation
• Psychotic symptoms
• Substance misuse that is on a critical level
• Volunteers who had pain-related problems that restricted daily life or were pregnant were not admitted to the study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• JAMK University Of Applied Sciences: lead
• Tampere University: collaborator
• University of Jyvaskyla: collaborator

Study Sites (3)

University of Jyväskylä

Jyväskylä, 40014, Finland

Location

Institute of Rehabilitation, JAMK University of Applied Sciences

Jyväskylä, 40100, Finland

Location

Tampere University

Tampere, 33100, Finland

Location

Related Links

• Description of the research group

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depression

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Officials

• Kalevi Korpela, Professor

  Tampere University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 18, 2021
• First Posted: May 21, 2021
• Study Start: January 1, 2019
• Primary Completion: March 31, 2021
• Study Completion: March 31, 2021
• Last Updated: July 1, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

FI (3)