WELL-BEING THERAPY - A NOVEL PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC APPROACH FOR RESIDUAL SYMPTOMS OF AFFECTIVE-DISORDERS

Background. There is increasing awareness of the prognostic value of r esidual symptomatology in affective disorders and of the need for spec ific therapeutic strategies in this phase of illness. The aims of the study were to apply a novel, short-term psychotherapeutic approach for increasing wellbeing, based on Ryffs conceptual model, to remitted pa tients with affective disorders and to compare the results with those obtained with symptom-oriented cognitive behavioural strategies. Metho ds. 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 wel l-being enhancing therapeutic strategy (well-being therapy) or cogniti ve-behavioural treatment of residual symptoms. Results. Both well-bein g and cognitive-behavioural therapies were associated with a significa nt 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 su ggest the feasibility of well-being therapy in the residual stage of a ffective disorders. Further research should determine its value as a r elapse-preventive strategy in specific mood and anxiety disorders.