Effects of Forest Therapy on Physical and Psychological Parameters in the General Population - a Randomized Controlled Trial

NCT05562128 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: KWT2
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 120
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

In recent years, nature and forest therapy has increasingly become the focus of medical research. Recent scientific findings indicate overall positive effects of nature and forest therapy on physical and mental health. In Asia and Australia, it has already been implemented as a public health concept of prevention and health promotion. The aim of the project is to replicate the experience gained in Asia over the last three decades on the physical and psychological effects of nature/forest therapy in the context of the German forest and to investigate it further scientifically.

Conditions

General Population (no Specific Condition or Disease)

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Profile of Mood States (POMS)

  Change from baseline POMS score at 3 months

Secondary Outcomes (11)

• Profile of Mood States (POMS)

  Baseline, day 1, day 3, 1 week, 3 months

• Perceived Benefits of Nature Questionnaire (PBNQ)

  Baseline, 1 week, 3 months

• Subjective Vitality Scale state (SVS-G state)

  Baseline, day 1, day 3, 1 week, 3 months

• Complaint List (B-LR)

  Baseline, 1 week, 3 months

• Perceive Stress Questionaire (PSQ)

  Baseline, day 1, day 3, 1 week, 3 months

Other Outcomes (2)

• Heart Rate Variability (HRV)

  Baseline, 1 week

• Qualitative interviews

  1 week and 8 weeks after inclusion

Study Arms (3)

Active forest therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Active forest therapy

Passive forest therapy

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Behavioral: Passive forest therapy

Waiting list

NO INTERVENTION

Interventions

Active forest therapy BEHAVIORAL

Participants take part in a two-hour active clinical forest therapy in Berlin-Wannsee on two days (with a break day in between). In this setting, a trained clinical forest therapist teaches exercises on the perception of nature and the connection between nature and health.

Active forest therapy

Passive forest therapy BEHAVIORAL

Participants take part in a two-hour passive clinical forest therapy in Berlin-Wannsee over two days (with a break day in between). In this setting, a trained clinical forest therapist will guide participants to various locations in the forest where participants can stay and let nature have its effect on them.

Passive forest therapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 90 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• \- Ability to Consent

You may not qualify if:

• Serious acute or chronic illness
• Immobility or limitation of mobility due to orthopedic, neurologic, or other medical causes
• Participation in another study
• Serious mental illness
• Pregnancy and lactation.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Charite University, Berlin, Germany: lead

Study Sites (1)

Charité Hochschulambulanz für Naturheilkunde am Immanuel Krankenhaus

Berlin, State of Berlin, 14109, Germany

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Disease

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 28, 2022
• First Posted: September 30, 2022
• Study Start: October 10, 2022
• Primary Completion: June 1, 2025
• Study Completion: August 1, 2025
• Last Updated: May 31, 2025

Record last verified: 2024-12

Locations

DE (1)