Walk-and-Talk Therapy Versus Conventional Indoor Therapy for Men With Low Mood: A Randomised Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Clinical Psychology
• Mental Health Treatment
• Men's Health

Background:

• Psychotherapy is effective for depression, yet men are less likely to engage and more prone to drop out.
• Investigating alternative therapeutic approaches for men is crucial to address treatment disparities.
• Outdoor 'walk-and-talk' therapy presents a potential alternative to conventional indoor psychotherapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of outdoor walk-and-talk therapy versus conventional indoor therapy for men with low mood.
• To compare outcomes including depression, anxiety, stress, and psychological distress between the two therapeutic settings.

Main Methods:

• A randomized pilot trial involving 37 men with low mood, comparing 6 weeks of weekly 60-minute walk-and-talk sessions with indoor therapy sessions.
• Participants received non-directive supportive counselling from provisional psychologists in either an outdoor walking route or an indoor clinic setting.
• Outcomes were measured using validated instruments for depression, anxiety, stress, psychological distress, and therapeutic alliance.

Main Results:

• Feasibility benchmarks for recruitment, retention (89%), attendance (91% walk-and-talk, 89% indoor), and acceptability (4.4/5 walk-and-talk, 4.2/5 indoor) were exceeded.
• Both groups showed similar improvements in depressive symptoms; however, the walk-and-talk group reported greater reductions in overall psychological distress, anxiety, and stress.
• Conventional indoor therapy resulted in greater improvements in male-type depression, while other outcomes were comparable between groups.

Conclusions:

• Outdoor walk-and-talk therapy is a feasible, acceptable, and potentially effective intervention for men experiencing depression.
• The findings suggest walk-and-talk therapy may offer specific benefits for anxiety and stress reduction in this population.
• A larger, powered trial is warranted to confirm these preliminary findings and explore moderators of treatment effectiveness.