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Well-being therapy. A novel psychotherapeutic approach for residual symptoms of affective disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 1998

G. A. FAVA ,
C. RAFANELLI ,
M. CAZZARO ,
S. CONTI  and
S. GRANDI
G. A. FAVA
Affiliation:
From the Affective Disorders Program and the Laboratory of Experimental Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Bologna and Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy; and Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York at Buffalo, New York, USA
C. RAFANELLI
Affiliation:
From the Affective Disorders Program and the Laboratory of Experimental Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Bologna and Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy; and Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York at Buffalo, New York, USA
M. CAZZARO
Affiliation:
From the Affective Disorders Program and the Laboratory of Experimental Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Bologna and Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy; and Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York at Buffalo, New York, USA
S. CONTI
Affiliation:
From the Affective Disorders Program and the Laboratory of Experimental Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Bologna and Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy; and Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York at Buffalo, New York, USA
S. GRANDI
Affiliation:
From the Affective Disorders Program and the Laboratory of Experimental Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Bologna and Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy; and Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York at Buffalo, New York, USA
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Abstract

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Background. There is increasing awareness of the prognostic value of residual symptomatology in affective disorders and of the need for specific therapeutic strategies in this phase of illness. The aims of the study were to apply a novel, short-term psychotherapeutic approach for increasing well-being, based on Ryff's conceptual model, to remitted patients with affective disorders and to compare the results with those obtained with symptom-oriented cognitive behavioural strategies.

Methods. Twenty patients with affective disorders (major depression, panic disorder with agoraphobia, social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder) who had been successfully treated by behavioural or pharmacological methods were randomly assigned to a well-being enhancing therapeutic strategy (well-being therapy) or cognitive–behavioural treatment of residual symptoms.

Results. Both well-being and cognitive–behavioural therapies were associated with a significant reduction of residual symptoms. However, a significant advantage of well-being therapy over cognitive–behavioural strategies was observed with observer-rated methods.

Discussion. These preliminary results suggest the feasibility of well-being therapy in the residual stage of affective disorders. Further research should determine its value as a relapse-preventive strategy in specific mood and anxiety disorders.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 28 , Issue 2 , March 1998 , pp. 475 - 480
Copyright
© 1998 Cambridge University Press