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A Virtual Reality-Based Horticultural Planting Program for Elderly With Subthreshold Depression

NCT07275034 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 36

Last updated 2025-12-10

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Subthreshold depression represents a state of psychological sub-health between normal individuals and clinical depression. It constitutes a high-risk stage for developing clinical depression and a critical phase for alleviating depressive symptoms. However, current research predominantly focuses on treating depression in the elderly, with insufficient attention to interventions for high-risk populations or limited to cross-sectional investigations of subthreshold depression risk factors. Therefore, prioritizing subthreshold depression in the elderly and implementing early interventions is essential. A 2024 article in The Lancet suggests that subthreshold depression treatment should prioritize psychotherapy and lifestyle adjustments over medication. Horticultural therapy, an interdisciplinary approach integrating horticulture, medicine, and psychology, demonstrates unique advantages over traditional medical treatments. In practical application, however, limited resources may hinder adequate support for horticultural activities, compromising activity quality, reducing therapeutic efficacy, and restricting the widespread adoption of horticultural therapy. Integrating VR technology with horticultural therapy can provide patients with more comprehensive, personalized, and effective mental health treatment plans, empowering them toward healthier, more positive lives. Therefore, the research team designed a VR horticultural intervention system for elderly individuals with subthreshold depression based on the Social Participation Competence Framework.

Conditions

  • Subthreshold Depression

Interventions

OTHER

Virtual Reality Garden System

The system comprised six tasks. Task One was an individual task involving planting tomatoes by completing eight subtasks (tilling, sowing, fertilizing, watering, secondary fertilization, secondary watering, pest control, harvesting) in a virtual garden. Tasks Two through Five were two-player online cooperative tasks. Task 2 involves corn cultivation, with one participant planting while the other observes; Task 3 requires two participants to simultaneously plant strawberries in parallel within the virtual garden; Task 4 involves collaborative sunflower planting between two participants; Task 5 has experienced elderly participants assisting less experienced individuals in completing planting tasks; Task 6 enables three participants to share the joy of planting together in the virtual garden.

OTHER

Routine Care

This arm of seniors maintains their daily routines and participates regularly in the nursing home's daily activities.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Fujian Medical University

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
60 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-02-01
Primary Completion
2026-03-20
Completion
2026-04-20

Countries

  • China

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07275034 on ClinicalTrials.gov