An Online Large-group One-session Training to Enhance Positive Mental Health

Summary

Current models suggest that mental health is not the mere absence of a mental disorder. Rather, mental health consists of two factors, mental disorder symptoms and positive mental health, that can be regarded as continua. Programmes applying interventions known from the positive psychology or positive psychotherapy framework have been shown to enhance psychological wellbeing, subjective wellbeing and to reduce depressive symptoms. However, interventions were mostly conducted in an individual or small group setting and usually consisted of more than one session. The few trainings of minimal length that were conducted in group settings only used one intervention strategy or one part of multicomponent positive psychological interventions. Therefore, the conclusions that can be drawn regarding the effectiveness of short group-interventions are limited. In this study, the investigators plan to conduct an online large-group one-session training to enhance positive mental health that comprises multiple positive psychological interventions (e.g. character strengths, positive communication, goal attainment, etc). Furthermore, an active as well as a passive (waitlist) control group are included in the study. In the active control group, dysfunctional thoughts are adressed that are known to everybody but exist in a great measure in people suffering from depressive disorders. Methods used in cognitive therapy are applied in this group. Participants will be recruited from a community sample without any inclusion criteria but being of legal age. The only exclusion criterion is not having the appropriate technical equipment for participation in a videoconference. Positive mental health as well as other constructs of mental health will be assessed before and after training and at one month and six months follow up to investigate long-term effects of the intervention.

Conditions

• Psychology, Positive
• Psychological Distress

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Online large-group one-session multicomponent positive psychological intervention

The intervention is aimed at enhancing positive mental health by using components from positive psychology or positive psychotherapy. These include for exapmle using character strengths, savoring the moment, goal setting and goal attainment. The intervention is conducted in an online group format via videoconference with a duration of approximately 3 and a half hours.

BEHAVIORAL

Online large-group one-session cognitive intervention targeting dysfunctional thoughts

The intervention is aimed at reducing dysfunctional thoughts by applying strategies known from the cognitive therapy of depression. These include for example identification of automatic thoughts and cognitive biases as well as evaluating evidence for and against automatic thoughts. The intervention is conducted in an online group format via videoconference with a duration of approximately 3 and a half hours.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ruhr University of Bochum

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Svenja Schaumburg, M. Sc. · Ruhr University of Bochum

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-01-01

Primary Completion

2021-05-01

Completion

2021-10-17

Countries

• Germany

Study Locations