Question: In adults with schizophrenia or related disorders, how effective is horticultural therapy, compared to standard care, for improving patient outcomes?

Answer:

There is currently insufficient evidence to determine whether horticultural therapy is beneficial for people with schizophrenia and related disorders, and further, larger randomised controlled trials are needed which examine this. Evidence from a systematic review that included one very small, short term RCT with methodological limitations found no effect of horticultural therapy on well-being and quality of life, but that horticultural therapy may, in the short-term, be more effective than standard care in relieving depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms.

To view the full summary, click the Download Document link to the right.

To view the Cochrane review which is included in this summary, click the Related Document link, below.