A multicomponent positive psychology group intervention for people with severe psychiatric conditions; a randomized clinical trial.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of a theory-driven multicomponent positive psychology intervention to improve well-being for individuals with severe psychiatric conditions in comparison to treatment as usual. This intervention moves away from the traditional psychiatric perspectives that focused on symptoms and deficits, promoting a broader view of outcomes such as non-critical self-acceptance, strengths, and positive relationships with others, among other things. Method: A two-arm randomized and outcome-blinded trial with pre-post and 6-month follow-up evaluations was conducted to assess the efficacy of the intervention. A total of 141 participants were allocated to either the experimental condition or the waiting-list group receiving their treatment as usual. A mixed-effect model was used to examine the efficacy of the intervention and a repeated-measures Student's t-test for the follow-up effectiveness analysis. Results: The intervention protocol was highly acceptable for participants, showing very high participant satisfaction as well as good attendance and adherence rates. At the end of the group therapy, participants reported a significant improvement in self-acceptance and environmental mastery and, these changes were maintained in the follow-up assessment after 6 months. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: The results of this randomised control trial provide further evidence supporting that positive psychology approaches can be a powerful complementary strategy to promote more comprehensive psychiatric rehabilitation services for people with severe psychiatric conditions.