New Perspectives in Psychopathology and Psychological Well-being by Using Forest Therapy: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Forest therapy is the clinical application of Shinrin-Yoku, also known as forest bathing. Specifically, the term Shinrin-Yoku refers to what is known as “a bath in the air of the forest”, which is carried out by walking and observing the landscapes of nature. In recent years, ecopsychology has become increasingly interested in the use of forest therapy as a credible, eco-sustainable, and easily adaptable treatment. The idea is to borrow the typical techniques of mindfulness and apply them to environmental contexts to verify if this leads to a better physical and mental well-being of the individual. Given the few contexts in which forest therapy is applied, this article aims to investigate, through a review of available literature, the applications of forest therapy existing in various severe or mild disorders, in order to understand if this technique can represent a credible alternative to traditional treatments and consequently arouse the interest of future experimental research in different contexts. Methods: A systematic review was conducted using the PRISMA 2020 guidelines that allowed us to identify n = 7 unique papers to be included in our analysis. Results: Forest therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment for improving a range of psychological and physiological parameters in college students, the elderly, women with postmenopausal insomnia, patients with alcoholism syndrome, patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), patients with chronic widespread pain and psychiatric patients. Conclusion: The analyzed studies are not yet sufficiently able to tell us if forest therapy is better than traditional treatments. However, the effectiveness demonstrated in the studies gives empirical evidence of the credibility of forest therapy and opens new scenarios for more eco-sustainable, versatile, affordable, and adaptable therapies to the needs of patients.