Positive Psychology for Mood Disorders (PPBPAD)

Mass General Brigham

Status: Completed

Conditions: Bipolar Disorder; Depression

Treatments: Behavioral: Recollection intervention; Behavioral: Positive psychology intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01820286

2012P002294

Details and patient eligibility

About

The investigators are doing this study to see if "positive psychology" can help adults with depression or bipolar disorder.

Positive psychology involves exercises-short tasks-that try to increase good feelings and emotions, like optimism, happiness, personal strengths, and well-being. Positive psychology exercises might include imagining a bright future, being grateful for good events, forgiving others, and doing kind acts for others.

The investigators want to see if practicing positive psychology exercises after leaving the hospital can increase feelings of hope, optimism, and positive thinking. The investigators are asking you to take part in this research study because you are in the hospital for depression or bipolar disorder.

This research study will compare "positive psychology exercises" to "control condition exercises." During the study, you may take part in control condition exercises instead of positive psychology exercises.

Enrollment: 25 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patient admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital Inpatient Psychiatric Unit
• Age 18 and older
• Able to read and write in English
• Admission diagnosis of major depressive disorder or bipolar affective disorder (current depressive episode), confirmed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and inpatient chart review

Exclusion criteria

• Psychotic symptoms, as assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and inpatient chart review
• Cognitive disorder, assessed using a six-item cognitive screen developed for research
• Primary admission diagnosis of substance use disorder

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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25 participants in 2 patient groups

Positive psychology intervention

Experimental group

Description:

4-week positive psychology intervention of 1 positive psychology exercise per week. Exercises will include 1) recalling 3 good events, 2) writing a letter of thankfulness, 3) using a personal strength, 4) envisioning a best possible future.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Positive psychology intervention

Recollection intervention

Active Comparator group

Description:

4-week recollection intervention of 1 recollection exercise per week. Exercises will include recalling events related to 1) daily activities, 2) health, 3) social life, 4) morning and evening.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Recollection intervention