Outdoor-Based Therapeutic Recreation Programs Among Military Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Assessing the Evidence

Abstract: Outdoor-based therapeutic recreation (TR) programs among military veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are becoming increasingly popular. A systematic review was conducted of 3 relevant databases, to examine the relationship between outdoor-based TR programs and psychosocial outcomes among veterans with PTSD. The final selection yielded 13 studies. Four were qualitative studies, whereas the remainder (n = 9) were quantitative studies. Outdoor-based TR programs may offer some important short-term psychosocial improvements in depression, PTSD, stress, and quality of life for veterans with PTSD. However, the methodological quality of all nine quantitative studies was weak, thus reducing confidence in its findings.