Horticultural Therapy Program Based on the Stress Immunization Training for Reducing Depression Symptom in the Patients with Stroke

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of horticultural therapy (HT) program based on the stress immunization training for reducing depression symptom in the patients with stroke. Twenty six stroke patients aged over 50 years (10 males, 16 females) with symptom of mild or moderate depression were participated in this study. A total of thirteen patients in the experimental group were participated in the 16-session HT program (twice a week, average 40 min per session) and the rest of the patients were in the control group. Before and after the HT program, depression symptom of the patients were evaluated by using Korean Form of Geriatric Depression Scale (KGDS). As the results, depression scores of the patients in the experimental group significantly decreased (p=.000), however, there was no significant difference in the control group. Additionally, higher satisfaction rate of the patients in the experimental group showed for the HT program. In conclusion, the HT program based on the stress immunization training led a positive impact on reduction of depression symptom of stroke patients and it could be applicable for the patients with depression symptom in the rehabilitation hospitals.

Determining the Effects of a Horticultural Therapy Program for Improving the Upper Limb Function and Balance Ability of Stroke Patients

“…The depression scores in the control group tended to increase and remained in the moderate depression symptom range. HT is reportedly effective for reducing depression in patients with poststroke depression (Kim et al, 2003(Kim et al, , 2010(Kim et al, , 2014Park et al, 2015;Shin et al, 2016). Previous studies of HT programs for stroke patients also showed that depression levels improved from moderate to normal, consistent with the results of this study (Kim et al, 2010;Park et al, 2015).…”

“…In addition, a satisfaction survey for the HT program was revised and tailored appropriately for this study (Park et al, 2015(Park et al, , 2016b and performed by the stroke patients in the HT group after the 18-session HT program. This satisfaction survey was composed of a total of nine questions: overall satisfaction with the HT, duration per HT session, frequency of HT, benefits of HT, preference for performed HT activities, wish to continue participating in the HT, intent to recommend the HT to other stroke patients, intent to pay for HT, and willingness to pay for HT.…”

Comparison of Physiological and Psychological Relaxation Using Measurements of Heart Rate Variability, Prefrontal Cortex Activity, and Subjective Indexes after Completing Tasks with and without Foliage Plants

“…Stroke patients with depression exhibited significant improvement in depressive symptoms after participating in an eight-session horticultural therapy program [ 62 ]. Moreover, elderly women >70 years of age maintained psychological health and improved their cognitive abilities, physical functional abilities, and immune systems by participating in a 15-session gardening intervention [ 59 , 63 ].…”

Horticultural Activity Interventions and Outcomes: A Review

“…Some studies investigating the preferences of subjects for horticultural activities showed that some subjects enjoyed a combination of horticultural activities more than a single horticultural activity. For example, elderly stroke patients preferred working with live plants, planting transplants, arranging flowers, and sowing seeds (Park et al, 2015). Moreover, if a facility did not have a garden plot for the intervention, only indoor horticultural activities could be used.…”