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.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
25
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Feasibility of positive psychology exercises
Feasibility will be measured by: 1. Completion rate of exercises 2. Ease of exercises (rated on a 5-point scale) 3. Helpfulness of exercises (rated on a 5-point scale)
Time frame: 8 weeks
Impact of positive psychology exercises on positive affect
Positive affect will be measured by: 1. Optimism score on the Life Orientation Test-Revised (scores range from 3 to 30, with higher scores indicating higher levels of optimism) 2. Gratitude score on the Gratitude Questionnaire-6 (scores range from 6 to 42, with higher scores indicating higher levels of gratitude) 3. 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)
Time frame: 8 weeks
Impact of positive psychology exercises on negative affect
Negative affect will be measured by: 1. Hopelessness scores on the Beck Hopelessness Scale (scores range from 0 to 20, with higher scores indicating higher levels of hopelessness). 2. 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) 3. 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)
Time frame: 8 weeks
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