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Effectiveness of Nature Walks in Depressed Adults

NCT ID: NCT03996785

Last Updated: 2021-11-12

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

47 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2019-06-18

Study Completion Date

2021-09-03

Brief Summary

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Over the past few years, a growing number of campaigns from around the world, including Canada, are highlighting the positive impact of spending time in nature on well-¬being. Indeed, mounting evidence suggests that spending time with nature is associated with a myriad of affective and cognitive benefits. Surprisingly few studies to date have tested the assumption that walking in nature versus in urban settings could alleviate stress and depressive symptoms in clinically depressed adults.

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of walking in nature versus in urban settings to improve depression related symptoms and reduce stress. The trial initially included 2 primary outcomes: patients stress levels (salivary cortisol) and depression-related symptoms (eg, affect, rumination, executive functioning).

However, due to hygienic concerns in light of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the collection of saliva samples (and in turn, the measurement of stress levels via salivary cortisol) was removed from the study's procedure. The main outcome was changed to effects on positive and negative affect.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Experimental

Keywords

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Clinical depression Stress Group-walking Walking condition (nature vs urban)

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants
Participants were unaware as to whether they were assigned to an urban or nature walking condition

Study Groups

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Urban

Patients will go for a silent 60-minute walk in an urban setting. The walk will take place in the months of June, July, August and September between 10:00 to 11:00 am.

Participants will walk in groups of two to three participants accompanied by two research assistants trained in mental health (doctoral students in psychology). The urban walk will be located on Boulevard de la Vérendrye with large arteries with three to four lanes.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Walking in Urban setting

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Walking for 60 minutes as described above

Nature

Patients will go for a silent 60-minute walk in a nature park setting. The walk will take place in the months of June, July, August and September between 10:00 to 11:00 am.

Participants will walk in groups of two to three participants accompanied by two research assistants trained in mental health (doctoral students in psychology).

The nature walk will take place at Parc Angrignon, an area of 96 hectares, one of Montreal's largest green and biodiverse spaces with a forest of 20 000 trees and a pond surrounded by willow trees.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Walking in nature setting

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Walking for 60 minutes as described above

Interventions

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Walking in Urban setting

Walking for 60 minutes as described above

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Walking in nature setting

Walking for 60 minutes as described above

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Men and women aged between 18 and 65 years, inclusively;
* Ability to speak French or English;
* Diagnosis major depressive disorder (DSM-IV);

Exclusion Criteria

* Acute psychotic symptoms;
* Acute suicidal intent (within 48 hours);
* Unable to walk for 60 min or serious medical reasons (e.g. major surgery)
* Heart condition as per history or detected on electrocardiogram
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

McGill University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Marie-Claude Geoffroy

Assistant professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Marie-Claude Geoffroy, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

McGill University

Locations

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Douglas Mental Health University Institute

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Site Status

Countries

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Canada

Other Identifiers

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IUSMD-18-33

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id