General Population (no Specific Condition or Disease)NCT05562128
Effects of Forest Therapy on Physical and Psychological Parameters in the General Population - a Randomized Controlled Trial
A study testing Active forest therapy and Passive forest therapy in people with General Population (no Specific Condition or Disease), run by Charite University, Berlin, Germany at 1 site in Germany.
Trial summary
In recent years, nature and forest therapy has increasingly become the focus of medical research. Recent scientific findings indicate overall positive effects of nature and forest therapy on physical and mental health. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 90 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- General Population (no Specific Condition or Disease)
- What is being tested?
- Active forest therapy and Passive forest therapy
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 120 participants
- Where
- 1 siteGermany
- Study dates
- 10 Oct 2022to Aug 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 90 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Ability to Consent
Who cannot join
- Serious acute or chronic illness
- Immobility or limitation of mobility due to orthopedic, neurologic, or other medical causes
- Participation in another study
- Serious mental illness
- Pregnancy and lactation.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Germany1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Charité Hochschulambulanz für Naturheilkunde am Immanuel Krankenhaus
Berlin, State of Berlin, 14109
Miriam Rösner, Study nurse, 00493080505682, m.roesner@immanuel.de
About this study
In recent years, nature and forest therapy has increasingly become the focus of medical research. Recent scientific findings indicate overall positive effects of nature and forest therapy on physical and mental health. In Asia and Australia, it has already been implemented as a public health concept of prevention and health promotion. The aim of the project is to replicate the experience gained in Asia over the last three decades on the physical and psychological effects of nature/forest therapy in the context of the German forest and to investigate it further scientifically.
- Being tested
- Active forest therapy, Passive forest therapy
- Medical subject headings
- Disease
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Active forest therapyBehavioural
Participants take part in a two-hour active clinical forest therapy in Berlin-Wannsee on two days (with a break day in between). In this setting, a trained clinical forest therapist teaches exercises on the perception of nature and the connection between nature and health.
Passive forest therapyBehavioural
Participants take part in a two-hour passive clinical forest therapy in Berlin-Wannsee over two days (with a break day in between). In this setting, a trained clinical forest therapist will guide participants to various locations in the forest where participants can stay and let nature have its effect on them.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Active forest therapy | Experimental | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Active forest therapy |
| Passive forest therapy | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Passive forest therapy |
| Waiting list | No intervention | Not described |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Profile of Mood States (POMS)
Measured: Change from baseline POMS score at 3 months
Secondary outcomes (11)
Profile of Mood States (POMS)
Measured: Baseline, day 1, day 3, 1 week, 3 months
Perceived Benefits of Nature Questionnaire (PBNQ)
Measured: Baseline, 1 week, 3 months
Subjective Vitality Scale state (SVS-G state)
Measured: Baseline, day 1, day 3, 1 week, 3 months
Complaint List (B-LR)
Measured: Baseline, 1 week, 3 months
Perceive Stress Questionaire (PSQ)
Measured: Baseline, day 1, day 3, 1 week, 3 months
Freiburger Fragebogen zur Achtsamkeit (FFA)
Measured: Baseline, 1 week, 3 months
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
The scale ranges from 0 to 3. Higher scores correspond to higher levels of anxiety and/or depression.
Measured: Baseline, 1 week, 3 months
Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)
The scale ranges from 0 to 4. Higher scores correspond to higher levels of perceived stress.
Measured: Baseline, 1 week, 3 months
Allgemeine Selbstwirksamkeit Kurzskala (ASKU)
The scale ranges from 1 to 5. Higher scores correspond to better outcomes.
Measured: Baseline, 1 week, 3 months
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)
The scale ranges from 1 to 8. Higher scores correspond to higher levels of anxiety (after recoding three inverted items).
Measured: Baseline, day 1, day 3, 1 week, 3 months
PROMIS Scale v1.2 - Global Health
The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where 1 is the lowest level and 5 is the highest level. Higher scores reflect better functioning.
Measured: Baseline, 1 week, 3 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted30 Sep 2022
- Study start10 Oct 2022
- Primary completionJun 2025 (estimated)
- Study completionAug 2025 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for General Population (no Specific Condition or Disease)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Charite University, Berlin, GermanyThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Charite University, Berlin, Germany
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Andreas Michalsen, Charite University, Berlin, Germany
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05562128
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- KWT2
- Status last verified
- Dec 2024
- First submitted
- 28 Sep 2022
- Last updated
- 31 May 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 31 May 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Forest Therapy on Physical and Psychological Parameters in the General Population - a Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05562128
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- KWT2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Charite University, Berlin, GermanyUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 10 Oct 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Jun 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Aug 2025 (estimated)
- First posted
- 30 Sep 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
In recent years, nature and forest therapy has increasingly become the focus of medical research. Recent scientific findings indicate overall positive effects of nature and forest therapy on physical and mental health. In Asia and Australia, it has already been implemented as a public health concept of prevention and health promotion. The aim of the project is to replicate the experience gained in Asia over the last three decades on the physical and psychological effects of nature/forest therapy in the context of the German forest and to investigate it further scientifically.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Active forest therapy | Experimental | Behavioral: Active forest therapy |
| Passive forest therapy | Active comparator | Behavioral: Passive forest therapy |
| Waiting list | No intervention | – |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 90 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Ability to Consent
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Serious acute or chronic illness
- Immobility or limitation of mobility due to orthopedic, neurologic, or other medical causes
- Participation in another study
- Serious mental illness
- Pregnancy and lactation.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Active forest therapyParticipants take part in a two-hour active clinical forest therapy in Berlin-Wannsee on two days (with a break day in between). In this setting, a trained clinical forest therapist teaches exercises on the perception of nature and the connection between nature and health. | Behavioural | Active forest therapy |
| Passive forest therapyParticipants take part in a two-hour passive clinical forest therapy in Berlin-Wannsee over two days (with a break day in between). In this setting, a trained clinical forest therapist will guide participants to various locations in the forest where participants can stay and let nature have its effect on them. | Behavioural | Passive forest therapy |
Primary outcome
Profile of Mood States (POMS)
Time frame: Change from baseline POMS score at 3 months
11 secondary outcomes
Profile of Mood States (POMS)
Time frame: Baseline, day 1, day 3, 1 week, 3 months
Perceived Benefits of Nature Questionnaire (PBNQ)
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 3 months
Subjective Vitality Scale state (SVS-G state)
Time frame: Baseline, day 1, day 3, 1 week, 3 months
Complaint List (B-LR)
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 3 months
Perceive Stress Questionaire (PSQ)
Time frame: Baseline, day 1, day 3, 1 week, 3 months
Freiburger Fragebogen zur Achtsamkeit (FFA)
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 3 months
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 3 months
Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 3 months
Allgemeine Selbstwirksamkeit Kurzskala (ASKU)
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 3 months
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)
Time frame: Baseline, day 1, day 3, 1 week, 3 months
PROMIS Scale v1.2 - Global Health
Time frame: Baseline, 1 week, 3 months
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 31 May 2025.
Related trials for General Population (no Specific Condition or Disease)
RecruitingObservational study
SAPHIR2 : Simplification of PHysical Activity Assessment by Rapid Interrogation
General Population (no Specific Condition or Disease)
Not yet recruiting
Brain Function Messures of a Psychological Flexibility Skills Training Based on ACT Over Disordered Eating Behaviors
General Population (no Specific Condition or Disease)
Not yet recruiting
Effect of Storytelling on Questionnaire Completion and Quality of Collected Data in an E-Cohort
General Population (no Specific Condition or Disease)
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Charité Hochschulambulanz für Naturheilkunde am Immanuel Krankenhaus
Berlin, Germany
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Active forest therapy and Passive forest therapy in people with General Population (no Specific Condition or Disease), run by Charite University, Berlin, Germany at 1 site in Germany.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 31 May 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Germany. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Each site lists its own contact: choose the nearest one under Trial locations. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Profile of Mood States (POMS) (time frame: Change from baseline POMS score at 3 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 31 May 2025.