Positive living: A pilot study of group positive psychotherapy for people with schizophrenia

TLDR

Positive psychology interventions target positive emotions to increase happiness, engagement in life, and well‑being while also reducing the impact of symptoms on a person’s life. The study examined the feasibility of an adapted group positive psychotherapy (Positive Living) for people with schizophrenia and preliminarily explored its effects on well‑being, hope, savoring, self‑esteem, symptoms, psychological recovery, and social functioning. Sixteen participants attended two PL groups and were evaluated at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at a 3‑month follow‑up. Findings indicate that the PL group was feasible and associated with possible improvements in psychological well‑being, hope, savoring, psychological recovery, self‑esteem, and psychiatric symptoms.

Abstract

Positive psychology interventions target positive emotions in order to increase happiness, engagement in life, and well being while also ameliorating the impact of symptoms on a person's life. We examined an adapted version of group positive psychotherapy for people with schizophrenia (Positive Living (PL)) in a pilot study. Sixteen participants were recruited to participate in two separate PL groups and were assessed at baseline, post-intervention and at 3-month follow-up. We examined feasibility of this intervention in addition to a preliminary exploration of well-being outcomes including psychological well-being, hope, savoring, and self-esteem as well as clinically related outcomes including symptoms, psychological recovery, and social functioning. Findings indicate that the PL group was feasible and associated with possible improvements in psychological well-being, hope, savoring, psychological recovery, self-esteem, and psychiatric symptoms.