Web-Based Positive Psychology Interventions: A Reexamination of Effectiveness.

OBJECTIVE: Seligman, Steen, Park, and Peterson (2005) suggested that positive psychology interventions (PPIs) contain specific, powerful, therapeutic ingredients that effect greater increases in happiness and reductions in depression than a placebo control. This study reexamined the three PPIs that Seligman et al. found to be most effective when delivered over the internet. METHOD: Three PPIs and a placebo control, identical with the interventions used by Seligman et al., were examined in a web-based, randomized assignment design. RESULTS: Mixed-design analysis of variance and multilevel modeling showed that all interventions, including the placebo, led to significant increases in happiness and reductions in depression. The effects of PPIs were indistinguishable from those of the placebo control. CONCLUSION: Using web-based delivery, both PPIs and theoretically neutral placebos can increase happiness and reduce depression in self-selected populations. Possible explanations include that non-specific factors common to most therapeutic treatments are responsible for the observed changes, or that cultural or other context-related variables operate to account for the divergent findings.

Happy Days: Positive Psychology interventions effects on affect in an N-of-1 trial / Efectos de las intervenciones de la Psicología Positiva en el afecto en un ensayo N= 1

Positive Psychology Interventions (PPIs) have been suggested as self-help tools to increase subjective well-being and happiness. However, most previous studies have been based on between-group comparisons, which are not informative with regard to trajectories of individual change over time. This study is a first attempt at examining whether completing frequently used PPIs ---- ‘Three Good Things in Life’, ‘Using Signature Strengths in a New Way’ and ‘Gratitude Visit’ ----results in consistent changes in affect at the level of the individual. In an N-of-1-study design, participants were randomly allocated to one of six counterbalanced patterns of the PPIs over a 9---10 week period. The affective aspect of subjective well-being was measured daily using the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS). Hierarchical linear modelling showed significant changes in PANAS scores, but no statistically significant differential impact on positive affect of the PPIs, apart from a marginally significant time × intervention interaction for ‘Using Signature Strengths in a New Way’. This suggests that frequently used PPIs do not result in changes in affect over time. This finding questions recommending the use of PPIs as self-help tools (AU)

Las intervenciones de la Psicología Positiva (IPP) se han sugerido como herramientas de autoayuda para aumentar el bienestar subjetivo y la felicidad. Sin embargo, la mayoría de los estudios previos se ha basado en comparaciones entre grupos que no informan del cambio individual en el tiempo. Este estudio es un primer intento de examinar si las IPP habitualmente empleadas ‘‘Tres cosas buenas de la vida’’, ‘‘Uso de las fortalezas características de un modo distinto’’ y ‘‘Visita de gratitud’’ provocan cambios en el afecto a nivel individual. En un diseño N = 1, los participantes fueron asignados al azar a uno de los seis patrones contrabalanceados de las IPP durante 9-10 semanas. El aspecto afectivo del bienestar subjetivo se midió diariamente usando la Escala de Afecto Positivo y Afecto Negativo (PANAS). El modelo jerárquico lineal mostró cambios estadísticamente significativos en las puntuaciones PANAS, pero ningún efecto diferencial estadísticamente significativo en el afecto positivo, excepto la interacción tiempo x intervención para ‘‘fortalezas características’’. Los resultados sugieren que las IPP empleadas habitualmente no provocan cambios en el afecto a lo largo del tiempo. Este hallazgo cuestiona el uso de las IPP como herramientas de autoayuda (AU)

Happy Days: Positive Psychology interventions effects on affect in an N-of-1 trial.

Positive Psychology Interventions (PPIs) have been suggested as self-help tools to increase subjective well-being and happiness. However, most previous studies have been based on between-group comparisons, which are not informative with regard to trajectories of individual change over time. This study is a first attempt at examining whether completing frequently used PPIs - 'Three Good Things in Life', 'Using Signature Strengths in a New Way' and 'Gratitude Visit' -results in consistent changes in affect at the level of the individual. In an N-of-1-study design, participants were randomly allocated to one of six counterbalanced patterns of the PPIs over a 9-10 week period. The affective aspect of subjective well-being was measured daily using the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS). Hierarchical linear modelling showed significant changes in PANAS scores, but no statistically significant differential impact on positive affect of the PPIs, apart from a marginally significant time × intervention interaction for 'Using Signature Strengths in a New Way'. This suggests that frequently used PPIs do not result in changes in affect over time. This finding questions recommending the use of PPIs as self-help tools.

Las intervenciones de la Psicología Positiva (IPP) se han sugerido como herramientas de autoayuda para aumentar el bienestar subjetivo y la felicidad. Sin embargo, la mayoría de los estudios previos se ha basado en comparaciones entre grupos que no informan del cambio individual en el tiempo. Este estudio es un primer intento de examinar si las IPP habitualmente empleadas "Tres cosas buenas de la vida", "Uso de las fortalezas características de un modo distinto" y "Visita de gratitud" provocan cambios en el afecto a nivel individual. En un diseño N = 1, los participantes fueron asignados al azar a uno de los seis patrones contrabalanceados de las IPP durante 9-10 semanas. El aspecto afectivo del bienestar subjetivo se midió diariamente usando la Escala de Afecto Positivo y Afecto Negativo (PANAS). El modelo jerárquico lineal mostró cambios estadísticamente significativos en las puntuaciones PANAS, pero ningún efecto diferencial estadísticamente significativo en el afecto positivo, excepto la interacción tiempo x intervención para "fortalezas características". Los resultados sugieren que las IPP empleadas habitualmente no provocan cambios en el afecto a lo largo del tiempo. Este hallazgo cuestiona el uso de las IPP como herramientas de autoayuda.

Vaccination, consent and multidose vials.

Multidose vials (MDVs) for injectable therapeutic agents, including vaccines, pose a risk of infection to injected patients as a result of contamination of the vials. The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) distributed the vaccine against pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza in MDVs. The distribution was accompanied by consent forms. The consent forms provided an inadequate basis for a discussion with patients about the risks associated with the use of MDVs. The High Court of Australia has previously held that medical practitioners who fail to explain the material risks of medical procedures to their patients might be held liable in negligence for any adverse sequelae of the procedures, even if the risks are very low. Medical practitioners, nurses, medical indemnity insurers and the DoHA should prepare now for the probable future use of MDVs by developing a consent form that would provide a solid foundation for a discussion of material risks with patients seeking vaccination.

Scoring the VIA Survey of Character.

The VIA Survey of Character (VIA) is a self-report inventory designed to measure and assess 24 character strengths that are linked conceptually to six fundamental "virtues"--Wisdom and Knowledge, Courage, Humanity, Justice, Temperance, and Transcendence, as developed by Peterson and Seligman in 2004. Despite its popularity, the current presentation of the VIA is not easy to score; researchers must either use a limited online scoring facility or must use outdated scoring keys. This paper presents a full description of the scoring key.

Men's voices: postnatal depression from the perspective of male partners.

Postnatal depression (PND) is a serious and debilitating condition that is recognized as being disruptive to women's lives at a time when they are already under stress adapting to the demands that a new baby creates. What has not always been fully acknowledged is that PND is linked with elevated levels of depression in male partners. In this article, the authors report on men's experiences of PND and of participation in a 6-week group treatment program specifically designed for male partners. The men experienced their partners' PND as overwhelming, isolating, stigmatizing, and frustrating. Coping with PND was assisted by participation in the men's group. Men reported lowered levels of depression and stress, and higher levels of social support, as a result of their participation. The men valued highly the opportunity to share experiences with peers, to hear strategies for engaging in their relationship, and to gain factual information.

A qualitative approach to identifying psychosocial issues faced by bipolar patients.

Many studies have examined factors influencing or associated with the outcome of bipolar disorder. However, little is known about bipolar patients' subjective experiences of their illness and the issues that are of significance to them. The use of a client-focused approach in identifying these issues is important for planning treatment and clinical medical management to address patients' specific needs. Focus group discussions and individual interviews were conducted with 18 bipolar patients and transcribed verbatim. The data were then analyzed and interpreted according to the phenomenological approach to qualitative research. The data were interpreted in terms of how patients view themselves, their lives and community, and their future. Implications for treatment and future research are discussed.