ClinicalTrials.gg
Not yet recruitingNCT07639476NP-A-MHPUpdated Jun 10, 2026

Study on Mental Health Promoting Effects of Natural Psychotherapy for Adolescents

An interventional study of Multi-modal Nature-based Meditation and Intervention diary in Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorder and Mental Health, sponsored by Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 7 Years to 18 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-10.

Sponsored by Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
3,000
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
7 Years to 18 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of a universal intervention based on Natural Psychotherapy in reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms among primary and middle school students. To evaluate both the clinical outcomes and the potential underlying mechanisms of change, data will be collected at four distinct time points: baseline (pre-intervention), post-intervention, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up.

Read the detailed description

Objective 1: Evaluate the Efficacy of Natural Psychotherapy on Primary Outcomes (Anxiety Symptoms and Rumination) To evaluate the short-term and sustained efficacy of the Natural Psychotherapy program in reducing anxiety symptoms and maladaptive rumination among primary and middle school students compared to standard schooling.

Objective 2: Assess the Impact on Secondary Outcomes (Psychological Well-being, Emotional Regulation, Stress, Sleep, Self-Esteem, Depression, Life Satisfaction, and Social Support) To assess the effects of the Natural Psychotherapy program on secondary psychological outcomes, including mindfulness, perceived stress, resilience, insomnia severity, self-esteem, depressive symptoms, life satisfaction, eudaimonic well-being, and perceived social support, and to examine whether improvements in these domains mediate the primary outcomes.

Objective 3: Explore the Mechanisms of Change and Predictors of Treatment Response To explore the underlying psychological mechanisms through which Natural Psychotherapy produces its therapeutic effects on primary outcomes (anxiety and rumination) and to identify baseline predictors and moderators of treatment response.

02

Conditions studied

  • Anxiety Disorders
  • Depressive Disorder
  • Mental Health

Keywords

  • Mindfulness
  • Depression
  • Emotional Regulation
  • Cognitive Flexibility
  • Primary School Students
  • Middle School Students
  • Feasibility
  • Natural Psychotherapy
03

In context

Anxiety Disorders

7,201 studies on the registry are indexed under Anxiety Disorders; 1,682 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 3,000 is above the median of 80 across 6,057 interventional studies indexed under Anxiety Disorders.

Browse Anxiety Disorders studies →

Lead sponsor

Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital is the lead sponsor of 22 studies on the registry; 5 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
7 Years to 18 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Ages: 7 to 18 years.
  • Population: School-aged children and adolescents currently enrolled and attending primary or secondary school.
  • Capacity: Ability to comprehend the study procedures and provide assent (or consent, if applicable).

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • School Attendance: Children not currently attending school or on long-term academic leave.
  • General Exclusion: Any condition that, in the opinion of the investigator or school physician, would interfere with the participant's ability to attend school or comply with study procedures.
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
3,000 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Universal Intervention based on Natural Psychotherapy

    Natural psychotherapy is based on "Morita therapy" and is a psychotherapy that fully reflects the characteristics of Chinese culture, taking into account the Chinese cultural background and actual clinical characteristics. Participants will receive a 4-week Multi-model Nature-based Meditation program delivered in regular classrooms. The program consists of weekly group sessions integrating nature-guided imagery exercises with principles of Nature Psychotherapy. Intervention Diary will be collected and will receive response from trained instructors. Sessions are facilitated by trained instructors.

    Behavioral: Multi-modal Nature-based Meditation · Behavioral: Intervention diary

  • No intervention
    Standard School Education Control

    Participants assigned to this arm will continue with standard school education as usual (business-as-usual) without the meditation intervention

Interventions

  • BehavioralMulti-modal Nature-based Meditation

    A 4-week universal group meditation practice delivered in classrooms. The intervention aims to reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms through nature-based mindfulness exercises.

  • BehavioralIntervention diary

    Participants are required to maintain a daily log of their meditation practice and life events, with a particular focus on instances of emotional fluctuation and their corresponding behavioral responses.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 Scale (GAD-7)

    A 7-item self-report scale assessing the severity of anxiety symptoms over the past two weeks. Scores range from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating more severe anxiety. Clinical cut-off scores are: 0-4 (minimal/no clinical anxiety), 5-9 (mild), 10-14 (moderate),and≥ 15 (severe). This is a widely used, valid, and reliable tool for screening and monitoring anxiety in adolescents. Time points of measurements: (1) Assessment at Week 1 (Pre-intervention, Baseline); (2) Week 5( immediately Post-intervention, after the 4-week intervention period); (3) Week 9 (1-month follow-up); (4) Week 17 (3-month follow-up); (5) Week 29: 6-month follow-up.

    Time frame: Week 1, Week 5, Week 9, Week 17, Week 29

  2. Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS)

    Symptom Rumination: Assesses repetitive focus on the symptoms of distress (e.g., feelings of sadness, fatigue, and loneliness). Brooding: Assesses a moody, reflective style characterized by passive comparison of one's current situation with unachieved standards. Reflective Pondering: Assesses purposeful and reflective examination of one's mood and its causes to gain insight. Scoring: Each item is rated on a 4-point Likert scale from 1 (almost never) to 4 (almost always). Total scores range from 22 to 88. Higher total scores indicate a greater tendency toward rumination. Time points of measurements: (1) Assessment at Week 1 (Pre-intervention, Baseline); (2) Week 5( immediately Post-intervention, after the 4-week intervention period); (3) Week 9 (1-month follow-up); (4) Week 17 (3-month follow-up); (5) Week 29: 6-month follow-up.

    Time frame: Week 1, Week 5, Week 9, Week 17, Week 29

Secondary outcomes

  1. Mindfulness - Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS)

    A 15-item self-report scale measuring dispositional mindfulness.Each item is rated on a 6-point Likert scale from 1 (almost always) to 6 (almost never). Scoring is computed as the mean of all 15 items, with scores ranging from 1 to 6.Higher scores indicate greater levels of dispositional mindfulness (Brown \& Ryan, 2003).Time points of measurements: (1) Assessment at Week 1 (Pre-intervention, Baseline); (2) Week 5( immediately Post-intervention, after the 4-week intervention period); (3) Week 9 (1-month follow-up); (4) Week 17 (3-month follow-up); (5) Week 29: 6-month follow-up.

    Time frame: Week 1, Week 5, Week 9, Week 17, Week 29

  2. Perceived Stress - Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10)

    A 10-item self-report questionnaire measuring perceived stress over the past month.Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 (never) to 4 (very often). Four positively worded items are reverse-scored. Total scores range from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater perceived stress. Interpretive guidelines: 0-13 (low), 14-26 (moderate), 27-40 (high stress) (Cohen et al.,1983). Time points of measurements: (1) Assessment at Week 1 (Pre-intervention, Baseline); (2) Week 5( immediately Post-intervention, after the 4-week intervention period); (3) Week 9 (1-month follow-up); (4) Week 17 (3-month follow-up); (5) Week 29: 6-month follow-up.

    Time frame: Week 1, Week 5, Week 9, Week 17, Week 29

  3. Resilience - Connor - Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10)

    A 10-item self-report scale measuring resilience. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 (not true at all) to 4 (true nearly all the time). Total scores range from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater resilience (Campbell-Sills \& Stein, 2007). Time points of measurements: (1) Assessment at Week 1 (Pre-intervention, Baseline); (2) Week 5( immediately Post-intervention, after the 4-week intervention period); (3) Week 9 (1-month follow-up); (4) Week 17 (3-month follow-up); (5) Week 29: 6-month follow-up.

    Time frame: Week 1, Week 5, Week 9, Week 17, Week 29

  4. Insomnia Severity - Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)

    A 7-item self-report questionnaire assessing insomnia severity over the past two weeks. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 (no problem) to 4 (very severe problem). Total scores range from 0 to 28,with higher scores indicating more severe insomnia. Cutoffs: 0-7 (no clinically significant insomnia), 8-14 (subthreshold), 15-21 (moderate), 22-28 (severe) (Bastien et al.,2001). Time points of measurements: (1) Assessment at Week 1 (Pre-intervention, Baseline); (2) Week 5( immediately Post-intervention, after the 4-week intervention period); (3) Week 9 (1-month follow-up); (4) Week 17 (3-month follow-up); (5) Week 29: 6-month

    Time frame: Week 1, Week 5, Week 9, Week 17, Week 29

  5. Self-Esteem -Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES)

    A 10-item scale measuring global self-worth and self-acceptance. Each item is rated on a 4-point Likert scale from 1 (strongly agree) to 4 (strongly disagree). Total scores range from 10 to 40, with higher scores reflecting higher self-esteem. Time points of measurements: (1) Assessment at Week 1 (Pre-intervention, Baseline); (2) Week 5( immediately Post-intervention, after the 4-week intervention period); (3) Week 9 (1-month follow-up); (4) Week 17 (3-month follow-up); (5) Week 29: 6-month follow-up.

    Time frame: Week 1, Week 5, Week 9, Week 17, Week 29

  6. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)

    The PHQ-9 is a brief and efficient self-assessment tool mainly used for screening depressive disorders (Major Depressive Disorder, MDD) and evaluating the severity of depressive symptoms. It was developed by Kurt Kroenke et al. (2001) and is one of the gold standard tools for screening depression in clinical practice and epidemiological studies. The questionnaire consists of 9 items and uses 4-point Likert scale from 0 (almost never) to 3 (almost always). The total score ranges from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating greater depression. In this study, only the middle school groups used this questionnaire, while the primary school group did not. Time points of measurements: (1) Assessment at Week 1 (Pre-intervention, Baseline); (2) Week 5( immediately Post-intervention, after the 4-week intervention period); (3) Week 9 (1-month follow-up); (4) Week 17 (3-month follow-up); (5) Week 29: 6-month follow-up.

    Time frame: Week 1, Week 5, Week 9, Week 17, Week 29

  7. Life Satisfaction

    The research team used a self-compiled social survey questionnaire based on the actual situation of Chinese primary and secondary school students. The questionnaire consists of 6 items and uses a 5-point Likert scale (1 = very scary, 2 = very dissatisfied, 3 = about the same between satisfied and dissatisfied, 4 = very satisfied, 5 = very happy). The total score ranges from 6 to 30 points, with a higher score indicating a greater satisfaction of the individual with their current life. Time points of measurements: (1) Assessment at Week 1 (Pre-intervention, Baseline); (2) Week 5( immediately Post-intervention, after the 4-week intervention period); (3) Week 9 (1-month follow-up); (4) Week 17 (3-month follow-up); (5) Week 29: 6-month follow-up.

    Time frame: Week 1, Week 5, Week 9, Week 17, Week 29

  8. Perceived Social Support - Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS)

    A 12-item self-report scale assessing perceived social support from family (4 items), friends (4 items), and significant others (4 items). Each item is rated on a 7-point Likert scale from 1 (very strongly disagree) to 7 (very strongly agree). Total scores range from 12 to 84, with higher scores indicating greater perceived social support. Time points of measurements: (1) Assessment at Week 1 (Pre-intervention, Baseline); (2) Week 5( immediately Post-intervention, after the 4-week intervention period); (3) Week 9 (1-month follow-up); (4) Week 17 (3-month follow-up); (5) Week 29: 6-month follow-up.

    Time frame: Week 1, Week 5, Week 9, Week 17, Week 29

  9. Eudaimonic Well-being - Flourishing Scale (FS-8)

    A 8-item scale measuring psychological functioning, meaning, and social well-being. Each item is rated on a 7-point Likert scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). Total scores range from 8 to 56,with higher scores indicating greater flourishing. Time points of measurements: (1) Assessment at Week 1 (Pre-intervention, Baseline); (2) Week 5( immediately Post-intervention, after the 4-week intervention period); (3) Week 9 (1-month follow-up); (4) Week 17 (3-month follow-up); (5) Week 29: 6-month follow-up.

    Time frame: Week 1, Week 5, Week 9, Week 17, Week 29

Other outcomes

  1. Positive and Negative Rumination Scale (PANRS)

    The aim was to separately explore the positive and negative aspects of rumination. The scale consists of 23 items and is divided into five factors: enjoying happiness, suppressing happiness, negative attribution, positive coping, and self-denial. The PANRS uses a 4-point Likert scale from 1 (almost never) to 4 (almost always). A higher score indicates a more severe tendency towards rumination. In this study, only the factors of enjoying happiness and positive coping were used. Time points of measurements: (1) Assessment at Week 1 (Pre-intervention, Baseline); (2) Week 5( immediately Post-intervention, after the 4-week intervention period); (3) Week 9 (1-month follow-up); (4) Week 17 (3-month follow-up); (5) Week 29: 6-month follow-up.

    Time frame: Week 1, Week 5, Week 9, Week 17, Week 29

  2. Executive Function -Self-report Executive Function Scale

    Assesses key aspects of executive function such as cognitive flexibility, working memory, and inhibitory control in daily functioning. In this study, only the cognitive flexibility and working memory dimensions from the scale were used. Each item is rated on a 3-point Likert scale from 1 (never) to 3 (often). After reverse scoring, total scores range from 15-45, with higher scores indicating better executive functioning. Time points of measurements: (1) Assessment at Week 1 (Pre-intervention, Baseline); (2) Week 5( immediately Post-intervention, after the 4-week intervention period); (3) Week 9 (1-month follow-up); (4) Week 17 (3-month follow-up); (5) Week 29: 6-month follow-up.

    Time frame: Week 1, Week 5, Week 9, Week 17, Week 29

  3. Internet Gaming Disorder Risk - Brief Internet Gaming Disorder Scale (IGDS9-SF)

    A 9-item self-report scale screening for symptoms of problematic gaming behavior based on DSM-5 criteria. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 (never) to 5 (very often). Total scores range from 9 to 45, with higher scores indicating greater risk of internet gaming disorder. Time points of measurements: (1) Assessment at Week 1 (Pre-intervention, Baseline); (2) Week 5( immediately Post-intervention, after the 4-week intervention period); (3) Week 9 (1-month follow-up); (4) Week 17 (3-month follow-up); (5) Week 29: 6-month follow-up.

    Time frame: Week 1, Week 5, Week 9, Week 17, Week 29

  4. Non-Suicidal Self-Injury - Adolescent Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Assessment Questionnaire (ANSAQ)

    The ANSAQ is a questionnaire assessing frequency, methods, and functions of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) behaviors in adolescents. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 (never) to 4 (always). This study utilized 12 items from the behavioral questionnaire. Total scores range from 0 to 48, with higher scores indicating more diverse methods or higher frequency of non-suicidal self-injury over the past year. Includes follow-up questions on context and triggers. Time points of measurements: (1) Assessment at Week 1 (Pre-intervention, Baseline); (2) Week 5( immediately Post-intervention, after the 4-week intervention period); (3) Week 9 (1-month follow-up); (4) Week 17 (3-month follow-up); (5) Week 29: 6-month follow-up.

    Time frame: Week 1, Week 5, Week 9, Week 17, Week 29

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Capital Normal University, Beijing
    Beijing, Beijing Municipality 100037, China
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Koivisto, M. , & Grassini, S. . (2022). Mental imagery of nature induces positive psychological effects. Current Psychology, 1-16.
  • Chen YQ, Li XR, Zhang L, Zhu WB, Wu YQ, Guan XN, Xiu MH, Zhang XY. Therapeutic Response Is Associated With Antipsychotic-Induced Weight Gain in Drug-Naive First-Episode Patients With Schizophrenia: An 8-Week Prospective Study. J Clin Psychiatry. 2021 May 11;82(3):20m13469. doi: 10.4088/JCP.20m13469. PubMed 34004092 ↗
  • Wang DM, Chen DC, Xiu MH, Wang L, Kosten TR, Zhang XY. A double-blind, randomized controlled study of the effects of celecoxib on clinical symptoms and cognitive impairment in patients with drug-naive first episode schizophrenia: pharmacogenetic impact of cyclooxygenase-2 functional polymorphisms. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2024 Apr;49(5):893-902. doi: 10.1038/s41386-023-01760-8. Epub 2023 Oct 30. PubMed 37903861 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared. The data are subject to confidentiality agreements due to privacy restrictions.

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Start is estimated for Sep 2026; primary completion for Jul 2027, 10 months later.

Of 3,836 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Anxiety Disorders, half reached primary completion within 12 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 28. This study's planned 10 months is below that.

Counting every sponsor, half of 3,938 studies reached it within 12 months; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 28.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Apr 13, 2026
First posted
Jun 10, 2026
StartEst.
Sep 15, 2026
Primary completionEst.
Jul 31, 2027
CompletionEst.
Dec 31, 2027
Last update
Jun 10, 2026
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 10, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07639476
Lead sponsor
Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital
Collaborators
Capital Normal University, Tsinghua University
Responsible party
Xiang Yang Zhang (Professor, Tsinghua University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jun 10, 2026
Start date
Sep 15, 2026 (estimated)
Primary completion
Jul 31, 2027 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 31, 2027 (estimated)
Last update
Jun 10, 2026

Study contacts

Xiang-Yang Zhang, Ph.D.
Contact
zhangxy99@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn
+86-10-62710644
Fangfang Shangguan, Ph.D.
Contact
shanggff@cnu.edu.cn
++8610-13501000369
Xiang-Yang Zhang, Ph.D.
principal investigator · Tsinghua University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jun 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Start the discussion