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

ABSTRACT: While psychotherapy is effective for treating depression, men are less likely than women to attend and more likely to drop out. The value of alternative therapeutic approaches for men needs to be investigated. In this randomised pilot trial, we investigated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of outdoor 'walk-and-talk' therapy compared to conventional indoor therapy for 37 men with low mood (mean [SD] PHQ-9 score = 11.4 [5.0]; mean [SD] age = 44.1 [15.8] years). Over 6 weeks at the University of Newcastle participants received weekly 60-min sessions delivered (i) while walking along a 4-km route on campus or (ii) indoors in a psychology clinic, delivered by provisional psychologists using non-directive supportive counselling. Outcomes included validated measures of depression, anxiety

SUBMITTER: Dickmeyer A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11795730 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan-Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature