Effects of the forest experience intervention program on depression, cognitive function, and quality of life in the elderly people with mild cognitive impairment

Effect of Forest Therapy on Depression and Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…We finally included five RCTs [ 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 ] and 15 quasi-experiments [ 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 ] in the qualitative analysis and meta-analysis.…”

“…As for the measurement used as self-reported for depressive symptoms, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), which is widely used in adults, was the most used with eight studies [ 56 , 57 , 58 , 60 , 62 , 64 , 70 , 73 ]. Next, three studies [ 54 , 64 , 65 ] used Profile of Mood States, and two studies used Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRDS) [ 57 , 70 ], Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) [ 59 , 71 ], and Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form (GDSSF) [ 55 , 68 ], respectively. Other scales used to measure depression were the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) [ 70 ], Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) [ 65 ], Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) [ 72 ], Korean Depression Scale (KDS) [ 63 ], Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZSDS) [ 66 ], and Stress Response Inventory (SRI) [ 61 ].…”

“…Of the 20 studies included, five studies were RCTs, so ROB 2.0 tools were used, and 15 studies were conducted for risk of bias using ROBINS-I tools, a non-randomized controlled experimental evaluation tool. The overall quality of five RCTs raised potential concerns in three [ 54 , 55 , 57 ] and high in two [ 56 , 58 ]. The risk of bias in the randomization process was high risk in two [ 56 , 58 ], some concerns in two [ 55 , 57 ], and low risk in one [ 54 ].…”

“…The overall quality of five RCTs raised potential concerns in three [ 54 , 55 , 57 ] and high in two [ 56 , 58 ]. The risk of bias in the randomization process was high risk in two [ 56 , 58 ], some concerns in two [ 55 , 57 ], and low risk in one [ 54 ]. Although all RCTs were rated as low ROB for Deviation from intended interventions, missing outcome data, and selection of the reported results, all RCTs raised some concerns about the measure of the outcome data.…”

“…Third, the effects achieved by forest therapy were usually compared to control groups without any specific intervention, and controls merely followed their “daily routine” [ 55 , 56 , 58 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 71 , 73 ]. These studies investigated the effects of depression and anxiety of forest therapy intervention without explicitly explaining the contribution of the forest environment to the achieved effects.…”