Effects of an outdoor horticultural activities program on cognitive and behavioral functioning, mood, and perceived quality of life in people with dementia: a pilot study

Frontiers in Psychology

Psychology

Andrea Melendugno¹  Veronica Murroni²  Elena Carbone²  Giulia Goldin²  Erika Borella³  Francesca Pazzaglia³  Chiara Meneghetti³  Raffaele Cavalli⁴  Andrea Basso⁵ 

[1] Casa Madre Teresa di Calcutta (O.P.S.A.), Padova, Italy;Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy;Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy;Inter-University Research Center in Environmental Psychology (CIRPA), Rome, Italy;Department of Land Environment, Agriculture and Forestry, University of Padova, Padova, Italy;“Giotto” Social Cooperative, Padova, Italy;

关键词: horticultural therapy;    psychosocial interventions;    dementia;    cognitive functioning;    mood;    behavioral functioning;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1182136

 received in 2023-03-08, accepted in 2023-05-12,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

IntroductionOne of various non-pharmacological treatments for people with dementia (PwD) is horticultural therapy. The aim of this double-blind, pre- and post-test, pilot study was to examine the effects of horticultural activities (HA) for PwD at a residential and daytime care facility. Whether combining HA with elements drawn from other psychosocial interventions (cognitive stimulation) would maximize any benefits was also newly examined.Materials and methodsTwenty-four PwD were involved either in HA, alone (TG1, N = 7) or combined with some cognitive stimulation (TG2, N = 8), or in indoor treatment-as-usual activities (CG, N = 9). Benefits were assessed in terms of general cognitive functioning (for participants with mild-to-moderate dementia), mood, behavioral and psychological symptoms, and quality of life.ResultsNo differences emerged between TG1 and TG2 in any outcome measure, so the two groups were combined (N = 15). Compared with the CG, the TG involved in HA exhibited less frequent and severe behavioral and psychological symptoms and an improved mood after the intervention. Caregivers also reported less distress in the TG after the intervention than in the CG. Considering only PwD with mild-to-moderate dementia, the TG also showed benefits in a measure of general cognitive functioning, and self-reported quality of life, compared with the CG.DiscussionOur results further confirm that engaging PwD in participatory HA in contact with natural elements can decrease their dementia symptoms and their caregivers’ distress, but also increase PwD’s quality of life. Our findings also suggest the need to consider dementia severity when assessing the benefits of horticultural therapy.

【 授权许可】

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Copyright © 2023 Borella, Melendugno, Meneghetti, Murroni, Carbone, Goldin, Cavalli, Basso and Pazzaglia.