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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01820286

Positive Psychology for Mood Disorders

The investigators are doing this study to see if "positive psychology" can help adults with depression or bipolar disorder.

Positive psychology involves exercises-short tasks-that try to increase good feelings and emotions, like optimism, happiness, personal strengths, and well-being. Positive psychology exercises might include imagining a bright future, being grateful for good events, forgiving others, and doing kind acts for others.

The investigators want to see if practicing positive psychology exercises after leaving the hospital can increase feelings of hope, optimism, and positive thinking. The investigators are asking you to take part in this research study because you are in the hospital for depression or bipolar disorder.

This research study will compare "positive psychology exercises" to "control condition exercises." During the study, you may take part in control condition exercises instead of positive psychology exercises.

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Key information

Conditions

Bipolar Disorder Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Bipolar and Related Disorders Depression Mental Disorders Mood Disorders

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patient admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital Inpatient Psychiatric Unit
  • Age 18 and older
  • Able to read and write in English
  • Admission diagnosis of major depressive disorder or bipolar affective disorder (current depressive episode), confirmed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and inpatient chart review

Exclusion criteria

  • Psychotic symptoms, as assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and inpatient chart review
  • Cognitive disorder, assessed using a six-item cognitive screen developed for research
  • Primary admission diagnosis of substance use disorder

Treatment and study plan

Positive Psychology intervention

Behavioral

Recollection intervention

Behavioral

Primary outcomes

  1. Feasibility of positive psychology exercises

    Time frame: 8 weeks

    Feasibility will be measured by:

    • Completion rate of exercises
    • Ease of exercises (rated on a 5-point scale)
    • Helpfulness of exercises (rated on a 5-point scale)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Impact of positive psychology exercises on positive affect

    Time frame: 8 weeks

    Positive affect will be measured by:

    • Optimism score on the Life Orientation Test-Revised (scores range from 3 to 30, with higher scores indicating higher levels of optimism)
    • Gratitude score on the Gratitude Questionnaire-6 (scores range from 6 to 42, with higher scores indicating higher levels of gratitude)
    • Positive emotion score on the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (scores range from 10 to 50, with higher scores indicating higher levels of positive emotion)

  2. Impact of positive psychology exercises on negative affect

    Time frame: 8 weeks

    Negative affect will be measured by:

    • Hopelessness scores on the Beck Hopelessness Scale (scores range from 0 to 20, with higher scores indicating higher levels of hopelessness).
    • Suicidal ideation scores on the Concise Health Risk Tracking scale (scores range from 12 to 60, with higher scores indicating higher levels of suicidal ideation)
    • Depression scores on the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report (scores range from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating higher levels of depression)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Massachusetts General Hospital

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Trial of a Positive Psychology Intervention to Reduce Suicide Risk in Patients With Mood Disorders

Acronym: PPBPAD

Important dates

Study start
2013
Primary completion
2016
Study completion
2016
First posted
Mar 28, 2013
Registry last updated
Sep 5, 2017

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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