"Everything just seems much more right in nature": how veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder experience nature-based activities in a forest therapy garden

TY - JOUR

T1 - "Everything just seems much more right in nature"

T2 - how veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder experience nature-based activities in a forest therapy garden

AU - Poulsen, Dorthe Varning

AU - Stigsdotter, Ulrika K.

AU - Djernis, Dorthe

AU - Sidenius, Ulrik

PY - 2016/3/7

Y1 - 2016/3/7

N2 - Available evidence shows that an increasing number of soldiers are seeking help for post-traumatic stress disorder. The post-traumatic stress disorder condition has big emotional and psychological consequences for the individual, his/herfamily and the society. Little research has been done to explore the impact of nature-based therapy for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder although there is a growing amount of evidence pointing towards positive outcome. Thisqualitative study aims to achieve a deeper understanding of this relationship from the veteran’s perspective. Eight Danish veterans participated in a 10-week nature-based therapy. Qualitative interviews were conducted and analysed using the interpretative phenomenological method. The results indicated that the veterans have achieved tools to use in stressful situations and experienced an improvement in their post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms

AB - Available evidence shows that an increasing number of soldiers are seeking help for post-traumatic stress disorder. The post-traumatic stress disorder condition has big emotional and psychological consequences for the individual, his/herfamily and the society. Little research has been done to explore the impact of nature-based therapy for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder although there is a growing amount of evidence pointing towards positive outcome. Thisqualitative study aims to achieve a deeper understanding of this relationship from the veteran’s perspective. Eight Danish veterans participated in a 10-week nature-based therapy. Qualitative interviews were conducted and analysed using the interpretative phenomenological method. The results indicated that the veterans have achieved tools to use in stressful situations and experienced an improvement in their post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms

U2 - 10.1177/2055102916637090

DO - 10.1177/2055102916637090

M3 - Journal article

SN - 2055-1029

VL - 3

JO - Health Psychology Open

JF - Health Psychology Open

M1 - 2055102916637090

ER -