10 EFFECT OF NATURAL LANDSCAPE ON RELIEVING EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS IN SCHIZOPHRENIC PATIENTS

Abstract Background Schizophrenia is a chronic, complex mental disorder with significant emotional symptoms, including anxiety, depression, and mood instability, which can have a profound impact on patients’ quality of life and the recovery process. In recent years, a growing body of research has shown that natural landscapes can reduce psychological stress and alleviate anxiety and depression by providing visual, auditory, and other sensory stimulation. As a non-pharmacological intervention, naturopathy can promote psychological recovery, but its specific effects on schizophrenic patients are unclear. The study aims to explore the effects of natural landscapes on the emotional symptoms of schizophrenia patients, and to provide a scientific basis and a new practical approach for the adjunctive treatment of schizophrenia. Methods The study population consisted of 100 hospitalized schizophrenic patients, all of whom met the diagnostic criteria of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10). The patients were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, 50 cases each. Both groups received conventional medication, on top of which the experimental group participated in a 3-month nature therapy program twice a week, which included walks in the park, outdoor gardening experiences, and lakeside meditations. The control group received only conventional medication. Before and after the intervention, changes in mood symptoms and mental state levels were assessed using the self-administered Depression and Anxiety Stress Scale and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), respectively. Statistical analyses were performed using paired t-tests and between-group comparisons, and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results As can be seen in Table 1, patients in the experimental group showed significant improvement in their emotional symptoms after the intervention. Before the intervention, the anxiety score of the patients in the experimental group was 28.3±6.5 points, which decreased to 17.4±5.2 points after the intervention, which was significantly better than that of the control group (P<0.01). The mental status score of the patients in the experimental group improved from 18.6±4.2 to 22.3±3.6, which was also significantly better than the control group (P<0.01). The anxiety score of the patients in the control group decreased from 29.1±7.2 to 26.4±6.1, while the change in the mental state score was not significant (P>0.05). The results showed that patients in the experimental group were better than the control group in terms of emotional symptom relief and mental state enhancement. Discussion The results of the study showed that the nature landscape intervention had a significant alleviating effect on the emotional symptoms of schizophrenic patients. This therapy improves the mental state of patients through the healing effects of natural elements and makes up for the lack of traditional medication in emotional regulation. Funding No.23ZLZX0306.