A Study on the Intervention Effect of Therapeutic Horticulture Based on the Healing System on Non-suicidal Self-injury in Adolescent Patients With Depression

Lei Huang

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Depression

Treatments: Behavioral: Therapeutic Horticulture; Other: Routine treatment and nursing

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07115381

(2025) No. (015)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Non-suicidal self-harm is a serious issue. Adolescents with depression are among the high-risk groups for non-suicidal self-harm behavior. Therapeutic gardening uses plant cultivation and corresponding gardening activities as the medium of action, allowing patients to obtain therapeutic benefits by participating in gardening activities such as planting, maintaining, and harvesting plants. Therefore, this study will apply therapeutic gardening based on the healing system to adolescents with depression who have non-suicidal self-harm behavior, in order to improve their non-suicidal self-harm behavior, negative emotions, emotional expression disorders, self-efficacy, sleep quality, and loneliness.

Full description

Based on the theories of positive psychology and the healing system theory framework, referring to relevant domestic and foreign literature and consulting books such as "Introduction to Horticultural Therapy", "Horticultural Rehabilitation Therapy Techniques", and "Horticultural Therapy: Growing Good Health for the Body and Mind", an intervention plan was formulated under the guidance of experts. A randomized controlled trial design was adopted. It is planned to carry out therapeutic horticulture based on the healing system for adolescent patients with depression who have non-suicidal self-harming behaviors, according to the intervention plan. By evaluating and comparing the changes and differences in indicators such as non-suicidal self-harming behaviors, emotions, physical functions, skills, and social interaction of the experimental group and the control group before and after the intervention, the actual effect of therapeutic horticulture based on the healing system in reducing the occurrence of non-suicidal self-harming behaviors among adolescent patients was verified. Finally, data analysis and paper writing were conducted.

Enrollment: 66 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 12 to 18 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• It meets the diagnostic criteria for moderate to severe depression in the Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
• It meets the diagnostic criteria for non-suicidal self-harm in the Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
• The patients and their guardians gave informed consent and voluntarily participated in this study.
• Have normal reading comprehension ability, language communication ability and writing ability.

Exclusion criteria

• Include mental disorders such as mental retardation, autism spectrum disorder, stereotyped movement disorder with self-harm, etc.
• Have had or currently have central nervous system diseases, endocrine system diseases, and other serious physical disorders.
• Are currently receiving or have received any form of systematic horticultural therapy within the past 3 months.
• Have allergic reactions to pollen, soil, or other substances that may be encountered during the intervention process.
• Have a risk of suicide and suicidal behavior.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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66 participants in 2 patient groups

Control group

Other group

Description:

Routine treatment and nursing

Treatment:

Other: Routine treatment and nursing

Therapeutic Horticulture group

Experimental group

Description:

Routine treatment and nursing and Therapeutic Horticulture

Treatment:

Other: Routine treatment and nursing

Behavioral: Therapeutic Horticulture