RESUMEN
Background and aim: Positive psychology includes the study of positive subjective experiences, such as: well being and happiness, positive individual traits, such as hope and forgiveness and interpersonal strengths, such as altruism and sense of accepting the community. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of hope enhancing training on level of behavioral strengths in dysthymic patients
Methods: In an experimental study 40 patients with dysthymic disorder were randomly selected and assigned to two experimental and control groups. At first, the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths [VIA- IS] test was performed on them as the pre- test. Then the experimental group received 6 sessions of hope enhancing training. The control group did not receive any training. At the end of the training, the [VIA- IS] was again performed on all subjects as the post- test
Results: The results of analysis of data showed that after hope enhancing training, the means of the characters strengths of the training group were significantly higher than control group [P<0.001]
Conclusion: Hope enhancing training is an effective intervention to improve strengths of Forgiveness, Self regulation, Modesty and Humility and prudence
RESUMEN
Background and Aim: Mood Bipolar Disorders[BD] are associated with unstabilities in patients' interpersonal interactions which in the long term may result in impairments in their social adjustment. Problem solving skills training, both in individual and group settings have been found effective on improving social adjustment. However, few studies have evaluated the efficacy of such approaches in social adjustment of patients with BD. This study was carried to assess the efficacy of problem solving skills training in the group setting on improvement of social adjustment in patients suffering BD
Method and Materials: Participants were 45 female patients with BD, aged 25-30 year old who were randomly selected among patients referred to rehabilitation centers of Isfahan in 2006. Participants were randomly assigned to two intervention and one control groups. In the first intervention group only patients received the education but in the second one along with patients, family members separately received the training too. No training was performed for control group. BD diagnosis was confirmed according to two psychiatrists' and the author's diagnostic interviews. In all three groups patients remained on their medications during the study. Wineland Social Adjustment Test were administered to the three groups before the intervention and then interventions groups received problem solving skills training by Hawthorn method in ten sessions. Wineland Social Adjustment test were again administered to patients of the 3 groups after the last intervention session and also later as a follow up post-test. Data were analyzed through SPSS-software using ANCOVA tests
Findings: After intervention, social adjustment mean scores were significantly higher in both intervention groups than in the control group [P < 0.05]. The difference persisted in the follow up post- test[P < 0.05]
Conclusion: Group problem solving skills training can improve social adjustment in patients with BD. This intervention can be considered as a part of these patients' treatment protocol in the long term