Horticultural Therapy in Chronic Schizophrenia: A Pilot Study

Background: Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness with positive and negative symptoms. Medications have limited effect in obtaining remission for symptoms, especially in treating negative symptoms in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Horticultural therapy (HT) is a possible alternative treatment of schizophrenia. In addition, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is considered to be related to the psychopathology of schizophrenia. Therefore, we intended to study the treatment effect of horticultural therapy, and to understand the relationships between serum BDNF levels and clinical symptoms in chronic schizophrenic patients. Methods: During a one-year period, 20 chronic schizophrenic patients with stable medication use, were recruited in a three-month in-door HT. Patients received assessments with Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RSE), as well as had their peripheral serum BDNF levels checked before and after their three-month HT. Results: Fifteen participants had fi nished the program fi nally. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and 7 out of 10 Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RSE) were signifi - cantly improved after being enrolled in the HT program (from p ＜ 0.05 to p ＜ 0.01). Mean serum peripheral BDNF levels were also signifi cantly increased from 6.6 ng/ml to 11.71 ng/ml before and after a three-month in-door HT (p ＜ 0.001). Conclusion: In-door HT may be a cost-effective and adverse effect-free alternative therapy for chronic schizophrenic patients. In addition, serum BDNF might be involved in the psychopathology. But, it needs a large sample to prove those study results in the future.