Depression, AnxietyPhase 2NCT06858189
Promoting Active Therapy: Path to Wellness
A Phase 2 study testing Walk-and-talk therapy in people with Depression, Anxiety and Physical Activity, run by Kansas State University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This project will examine changes in depression and anxiety following a 10-week intervention promoting nature-based physical activity in mental health settings. We will recruit ten licensed therapists whose caseload includes adults with depression and anxiety. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Depression, Anxiety, Physical Activity, Time in Nature
- What is being tested?
- Walk-and-talk therapy
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 28 Feb 2025to 31 May 2026
- Phase
- Phase 2
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 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Current client of a participating therapist who has completed study training
- Diagnosed depressive or anxiety disorder
- Able to safely engage in moderate physical activity
- Willing to complete all study requirements
Who cannot join
- Planning to discontinue therapy in less than 6 months
- Active suicidal ideation
- Does not pass exercise risk screener
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas, 66506
About this study
Official title: Can Nature-based Physical Activity Improve Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety?
This project will examine changes in depression and anxiety following a 10-week intervention promoting nature-based physical activity in mental health settings. We will recruit ten licensed therapists whose caseload includes adults with depression and anxiety. Following a training by our team, each participating therapist will recruit six clients, who will be randomly assigned to the intervention or control condition. Clients in the intervention condition will engage in walk-and-talk therapy outdoors during weekly sessions and discuss strategies for being active outdoors on their own. We will assess changes in depression, anxiety, and nature-based physical activity in both groups.
Read the detailed description
For this project, we will recruit ten licensed therapists whose caseload includes adults with depression and anxiety. We aim to recruit therapists who practice in northeast Kansas. Our team will lead a 3-hour in-person training for participating therapists that covers project aims and procedures, benefits of nature-based physical activity for mental health, identifying and enrolling suitable clients for participation, recommending and engaging in nature-based physical activity with clients, and completing project assessments.
Following the training, each therapist will recruit six clients aged 18-65 who are willing to participate in a 10-week research study and meet the following criteria: 1) diagnosed depressive or anxiety disorder, 2) able to safely engage in moderate physical activity, and 3) willing to complete all research requirements. Clients who are part of an underrepresented minority group (i.e., racial/ethnic minority, low SES, LGTBQ) will be prioritize during recruitment. Therapists will invite eligible clients to participate in the study, and those who agree will sign an informed consent document. Clients will be randomly assigned to the intervention or active waitlist control (usual care) condition. All participants will receive a Fitbit and download the NatureDose app. During the 10-week intervention, clients and therapists will engage in walk-and-talk therapy outdoors in natural settings during weekly therapy sessions. In addition, therapists will work with clients to set realistic goals for increased nature-based physical activity outside of the therapy setting. Therapists will check in with clients weekly regarding their progress and assist with goal revision, barrier planning, and self-monitoring. Control participants will receive information about nature-based physical activity, and then will receive the full intervention after 10 weeks.
All participating clients will complete surveys assessing depression and anxiety symptoms at baseline (following informed consent) and at the end of the 10-week intervention. Throughout the 10-week intervention, therapists will keep a weekly log of frequency and duration of walk-and talk sessions. Clients will also keep a weekly log of nature-based physical activity, use the NatureDose app to measure time spent in nature each day, and wear a Fitbit to track their daily physical activity. At the end of the intervention, clients will complete a brief satisfaction survey, and therapists will complete an individual interview with the research team.
- Conditions
- Depression, Anxiety, Physical Activity, Time in Nature, Self-Efficacy, Feasibility Pilot Study
- Being tested
- Walk-and-talk therapy
- Keywords
- therapy, nature prescriptions, park prescriptions (ParkRx), exercise, mental health, walk-and-talk
- Medical subject headings
- Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Motor Activity, Psychological Well-Being
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Walk-and-talk therapyBehavioural
Also called Path to Wellness
During the 10-week intervention, clients and therapists will engage in walk-and-talk therapy outdoors in natural settings during weekly therapy sessions. In addition, therapists will work with clients to set realistic goals for increased nature-based physical activity outside of the therapy setting. Therapists will check in with clients weekly regarding their progress and assist with goal revision, barrier planning, and self-monitoring.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention (immediate start) | Experimental | Participants will engage in walk-and-talk therapy during weekly sessions with their therapist and will set goals for engaging in nature-based physical activity on their own outside of therapy. Receives: Behavioral: Walk-and-talk therapy |
| Waitlist control | No intervention | Participants will receive generic educational materials about nature-based physical activity and local parks. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Participation in walk-and-talk therapy
Therapists will keep logs of weekly attendance and participation in walk-and-talk therapy during sessions. Outcome will be calculated as a percentage of offered sessions.
Measured: Weekly throughout the 10-week intervention
Perceived therapist support for nature-based physical activity
Participating clients will complete a survey indicating how frequently their therapist asks about physical activity, recommends physical activity, engages in physical activity with the client, etc.
Measured: End of intervention (after 10 weeks)
Acceptability
At the end of the intervention, clients will complete a survey indicating how much the discussions/sessions were helpful, enjoyable, informative, etc.
Measured: End of intervention (after 10 weeks)
Secondary outcomes (4)
Self-efficacy for physical activity
Measured with a modified version of the barriers self-efficacy scale
Measured: baseline, 10 weeks
Self-efficacy for time in nature
Measured with the self-efficacy for spending time in nature scale
Measured: baseline, 10 weeks
Physical activity
Average MVPA and daily steps measured via Fitbit inspire 3 devices
Measured: Weekly throughout the 10-week intervention
Time in nature
Measured via NatureDose app
Measured: Weekly throughout the 10-week intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Mar 2025
- Study start28 Feb 2025
- Primary completion31 May 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion31 May 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Depression, AnxietyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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 2
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Kansas State University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- REI Cooperative Action Fund
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Emily Mailey, Kansas State University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06858189
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB12197
- Status last verified
- Feb 2025
- First submitted
- 27 Feb 2025
- Last updated
- 5 Mar 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided