Interventions de pleine conscience et de psychologie positive dans la prise en charge de la dépression : une étude pilote comparative contrôlée

Aims

The aim of this pilot comparative study was to compare the efficacy and the processes of two third wave psychotherapy interventions (a Mindfulness Based Intervention and a Positive Psychology Intervention) in the reduction of moderate to severe depression.

Methods

Twenty-seven patients (mean age = 44 years old) suffering from moderate to severe depression were recruited in a psychiatric clinic in the South-Est of France. They were randomized to either a Mindfulness Based Intervention (MBI; n = 10) or a Positive Psychology Intervention (PPI; n = 12) and compared to a Treatment As Usual (TAU; n = 5) group who benefited from psychoeducational and classical cognitive behavioral emotion regulation workshops. The interventions were based on existing validated mindfulness and positive psychology interventions (MBCT and CARE). Participants completed questionnaires before (T1), after (T2) and one month after the intervention (T3). These questionnaires measured depressive symptoms, hopelessness, well-being, authentic-sustainable happiness, psychological flexibility, procrastination, and attention orientation towards the positive aspects of life. These data were completed by qualitative data collected through semi-directed interviews at T2 in order to assess to what extent each participant had found the intervention useful and adapted to their needs. These interviews also assessed how much participants expressed motivation to continue the practices learnt.

Results

Participants showed reduced depressive symptoms and hopelessness, enhanced well-being, authentic-sustainable happiness, psychological flexibility, and attention orientation towards positive aspects of life at T2 in both interventions, which were maintained at T3. Procrastination significantly decreased at T2 only for the PPI group. The TAU control group only showed a significant increase in well-being at T2. The results from the semi-directed interviews underlined that the patients perceived the interventions as useful in terms of increased openness and self-kindness (MBI) as well as altruistic attitudes (PPI).

Conclusion

Although the interventions are distinct, the effects appear to be similar in terms of efficacy and mechanisms of action, apart from a greater behavioral activation in the PPI intervention. The mindfulness based intervention group intervention and the positive psychology group intervention carried out in this study appeared to be adapted to the patients and mostly positive psychology practices were reported to be easily used outside the sessions.