Becker ES, Barth A, Smits JAJ, Beisel S, Lindenmeyer J, Rinck M.
Positivity-approach training for depressive symptoms: A randomized controlled trial.
J Affect Disord 2019;
245:297-304. [PMID:
30439675 DOI:
10.1016/j.jad.2018.11.042]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Revised: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Depression is highly comorbid and depressive symptoms are very common. Symptom severity adversely affects treatment outcome and later health status. Established interventions for depression leave ample room for improvement. Short interventions that target specific vulnerabilities emerge as plausible augmentation strategies. In this study, we tested the efficacy of a computerized general positivity-approach training and its effect on depressive symptoms.
METHODS
Patients (N = 240) with various diagnoses of mental disorders who received treatment-as-usual in an inpatient setting were randomly assigned to also receive either 4 sessions of a positivity-approach training or 4 sessions of sham training. Depression severity was assessed at baseline and post-treatment. Training data were analyzed for a subset of 111 patients.
RESULTS
Depressive symptoms were reduced more after positivity-approach training than after sham training. Initial depression symptom severity moderated the intervention effects, such that approach tendencies and depression symptoms were only affected positively among patients with higher levels of initial depression symptom severity.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings provide preliminary support for positivity-approach training as an add-on treatment option for depressive symptoms.
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