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NCT Number: NCT05562128

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

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.

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Key information

Conditions

General Population (no Specific Condition or Disease) Disease Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–90 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Charité Hochschulambulanz für Naturheilkunde am Immanuel Krankenhaus

Berlin, State of Berlin, 14109, Germany

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Miriam Rösner, Study nurse

CONTACT

[email protected]

00493080505682

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Ability to Consent

Exclusion criteria

  • 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.

Treatment and study plan

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.

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.

Primary outcomes

  1. Profile of Mood States (POMS)

    Time frame: Change from baseline POMS score at 3 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Profile of Mood States (POMS)

    Time frame: Baseline, day 1, day 3, 1 week, 3 months

  2. Perceived Benefits of Nature Questionnaire (PBNQ)

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 3 months

  3. Subjective Vitality Scale state (SVS-G state)

    Time frame: Baseline, day 1, day 3, 1 week, 3 months

  4. Complaint List (B-LR)

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 3 months

  5. Perceive Stress Questionaire (PSQ)

    Time frame: Baseline, day 1, day 3, 1 week, 3 months

  6. Freiburger Fragebogen zur Achtsamkeit (FFA)

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 3 months

  7. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 3 months

    The scale ranges from 0 to 3. Higher scores correspond to higher levels of anxiety and/or depression.

  8. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 3 months

    The scale ranges from 0 to 4. Higher scores correspond to higher levels of perceived stress.

  9. Allgemeine Selbstwirksamkeit Kurzskala (ASKU)

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 3 months

    The scale ranges from 1 to 5. Higher scores correspond to better outcomes.

  10. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)

    Time frame: Baseline, day 1, day 3, 1 week, 3 months

    The scale ranges from 1 to 8. Higher scores correspond to higher levels of anxiety (after recoding three inverted items).

  11. PROMIS Scale v1.2 - Global Health

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 3 months

    The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where 1 is the lowest level and 5 is the highest level. Higher scores reflect better functioning.

Other outcomes

  1. Heart Rate Variability (HRV)

    Time frame: Baseline, 1 week

    24h measuring by Faros 180

  2. Qualitative interviews

    Time frame: 1 week and 8 weeks after inclusion

    Qualitative assessment will be carried out in qualitative interviews in 20 patients participating in the study. The interviews will be recorded, transcribed and analyzed with qualitative content analysis.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Charite University, Berlin, Germany

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Sep 30, 2022
Registry last updated
May 31, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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