Abstract
Recently, scientific literature has seen significant development and evaluation of several positive psychology interventions. However, there are still lacking studies that evaluate the efficacy of this type of interventions in clinically depressed adolescents. This paper aims to demonstrate the preliminary results of a new therapy implemented to a 14-year-old female adolescent diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder: the Optimal Functioning Therapy for Adolescent. This therapy seeks to promote adolescents’ optimal functioning by reducing depressive symptoms and increasing well-being. The innovation of this therapy lies in the integration of techniques from Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Positive Psychology Interventions. The assessment of this therapy was made using retrospective and real-time or ecological measures (Experience Sampling Method – Csikszentmihalyi and Larson in Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 175, 526–536, 1987) in three moments: baseline; post-intervention; and 4-month follow-up. Retrospective results showed improvement in positive trait characteristics and elimination of depressive symptoms maintained until follow-up. Real-time results showed the benefits of the therapy on the participant’s daily life regarding external contexts (increased engagement and diversification of activities, places, and companies) and state characteristics (increase in positive mood and self-satisfaction, and a decrease in the negative mood), maintained until follow-up. The Optimal Functioning Therapy for Adolescents contributed to the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder and optimal functioning enhancement.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
American Psychological Association. (2010). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/ethics/code/principles.pdf.
Asgharipoor, N., Asgharnejad Farid, A., Arshadi, H., & Sahebi, A. (2012). A comparative study on the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy and group cognitive-behavioral therapy for the patients suffering from major depressive disorder. Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 6(2), 33–41.
Barge-Schaapveld, D. Q., Nicolson, N. A., van der Hoop, R. G., & DeVries, M. W. (1995). Changes in daily life experience associated with clinical improvement in depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 34, 139–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-0327(95)00012-C.
Beck, J. S. (1995). Cognitive therapy: Basics and beyond. New York: Guilford Press.
Beck, A. T., Steer, R. A., & Brown, G. K. (1996). Manual for the Beck depression inventory-II. San Antonio: Psychological Corporation.
Bizarro, L. (1999). O bem-estar psicológico durante a adolescência. Doctoral Thesis. Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação da Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal.
Bolier, L., Haverman, M., Westerhof, G. J., Riper, H., Smit, F., & Bohlmeijer, E. (2013). Positive psychology interventions: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies. BMC Public Health, 13(119), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-119.
Burgić-Radmanović, M. (2011). Affective disorders in childhood and adolescence. Acta Medica Academica, 40(1), 67–74.
Canavarro, M. C. (1999). Inventário de Sintomas Psicopatológicos: BSI. In M. R. Simões, M. Gonçalves, & L. S. Almeida (Eds.), Testes e provas psicológicas em Portugal (Vol. II, pp. 87–109). Braga: SHO/APPORT.
Carr, A., & Finnegan, L. (2015). The say ‘yes’ to life (SYTL) program: A positive psychology group intervention for depression. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 45(2), 109–118. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-014-9269-9.
Coelho, R., Martins, A., & Barros, H. (2002). Clinical profiles relating gender and depressive symptoms among adolescents ascertained by the beck depression inventory II. European Psychiatry, 17(4), 222–226. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0924-9338(02)00663-6.
Costello, J., Erkanli, A., & Angold, A. (2006). Is there an epidemic of child or adolescent depression? Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 47(12), 1263–1271. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2006.01682.x.
Csikszentmihalyi, M., & Larson, R. (1987). Validity and reliability of the experience sampling method. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 175, 526–536. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005053-198709000-00004.
Cyranowski, J. M., Frank, E., Young, E., & Shear, K. (2000). Adolescent onset of the gender difference in lifetime rates of major depression. A theoretical model. Archives of General Psychiatry, 57, 21–27. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.57.1.21.
David-Ferdon, C., & Kaslow, N. (2008). Evidence-based psychosocial treatments for child and adolescent depression. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 37, 62–104. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374410701817865.
Derogatis, L. R. (1993). BSI: Brief symptom inventory (3rd ed.). Minneapolis: National Computers Systems.
Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71–75. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13.
Ebner-Priemer, U. W., & Trull, T. J. (2009). Ecological momentary assessment of mood disorders and mood dysregulation. Psychological Assessment, 21, 463–475. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017075.
Freire, T., Teixeira, A., Silva, E., & Matias, G. (2014). Interventions for youth depression: From symptom reduction to well-being and optimal functioning. Journal of Behavior, Health & Social Issues, 6(2), 9–19. https://doi.org/10.5460/jbhsi.v6.2.50816.
Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, M., McCabe, M., Skouteris, H., Richardson, B., Nihill, K., Watson, B., & Solomon, D. (2015). Does body satisfaction influence self-esteem in adolescents' daily lives? An experience sampling study. Journal of Adolescence, 45, 11–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2015.08.009.
Galinha, I. C., & Pais-Ribeiro, J. L. (2005). Contribuição para o estudo da versão portuguesa da positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS): II – estudo psicométrico. Análise Psicológica, 2(XXIII), 219–227.
Hankin, B. L., Abramson, L. Y., Moffitt, T. E., Silva, P. A., McGee, R., & Angell, K. E. (1998). Development of depression from preadolescence to young adulthood: Emerging gender differences in a 10-year longitudinal study. Journal of Abnormal Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.107.1.128.
Hartmann, J. A., Wichers, M., Menne-Lothmann, C., Kramer, I., Viechtbauer, W., Peeters, F., et al. (2015). Experience sampling-based personalized feedback and positive affect: A randomized controlled trial in depressed patients. PLoS One, 10(6), e0128095. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0128095.
Havermans, R., Nicolson, N. A., Berkhof, J., & DeVries, M. W. (2011). Patterns of salivary cortisol secretion and responses to daily events in patients with remitted bipolar disorder. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 36(2), 258–265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.07.016.
Hektner, J. M., Schmidt, J. A., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2007). Experience sampling method: Measuring the quality of everyday life. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications.
Höhn, P., Menne-Lothmann, C., Peeters, F., Nicolson, N. A., Jacobs, N., Derom, C., et al. (2013). Moment-to-moment transfer of positive emotions in daily life predicts future course of depression in both general population and patient samples. PLoS One, 8(9), e75655. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0075655.
Horowitz, J. L., & Garber, J. (2006). The prevention of depressive symptoms in children and adolescents: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74, 401–415. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.74.3.401.
Ingram, R. E., & Snyder, C. R. (2006). Blending the good with the bad: Integrating positive psychology and cognitive psychotherapy. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quaterly, 20(2), 117–122. https://doi.org/10.1891/jcop.20.2.117.
Karwoski, L., Garratt, G. M., & Ilardi, S. S. (2006). On the integration of cognitive-behavior therapy for depression and positive psychology. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An Introduction Quartely, 20(2), 159–170.
Kessler, R. C., Avenevoli, S., & Merikangas, K. R. (2001). Mood disorders in children and adolescents: An epidemiologic perspective. Biological Psychiatry, 49(12), 1002–1014. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3223(01)01129-5.
Lerner, R. M., Lerner, J. V., Almerigi, J., Theokas, C., Phelps, E., Gestsdottir, S., et al. (2005). Positive youth development, participation in community youth development programs, and community contributions of fifth grade adolescents: Findings from the first wave of the 4-H study of positive youth development. Journal of Early Adolescence, 25(1), 17–71. https://doi.org/10.1177/0272431604272461.
Linley, P. A., & Joseph, S. (2004). Applied positive psychology: A new perspective for professional practice. In P. A. Linley & S. Joseph (Eds.), Positive psychology in practice (pp. 3–14). New Jersey: Wiley.
Machado, C., Gomes, J., & Freire, T. (2009). The psycho beeper (Versão 0.9) [electronic beeper software]. Braga: Universidade do Minho.
Martins, A., Coelho, R., Ramos, E., & Barros, H. (2000). Administração do BDI-II a adolescentes portugueses: Resultados preliminares. Revista Portuguesa de Psicossomática, 2(1), 123–132.
Neto, F. (1993). The satisfaction with life scale: Psychometrics properties in an adolescent sample. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 22(2), 125–134. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01536648.
Papadakis, A. A., Prince, R. P., Jones, N. P., & Strauman, T. J. (2006). Self-regulation, rumination, and vulnerability to depression in adolescent girls. Development and Psychopathology, 18, 815–829. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579406060408.
Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2006). Moral competence and character strengths among adolescents: The development and validation of the values in action inventory of strengths for youth. Journal of Adolescence, 29, 891–905. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2006.04.011.
Pompili, M., Innamorati, M., Lamis, D. A., Lester, D., Fiore, E. D., Giordano, G., et al. (2016). The interplay between suicide risk, cognitive vulnerability, subjective happiness and depression among students. Current Psychology, 35(3), 450–458. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-015-9313-2.
Rashid, T., Anjum, A., & Lennox, C. (2006). Positive psychotherapy for middle school children. Unpublished manuscript, Toronto District School Board. Results presented in: Rashid, T., & Anjum, A. (2008). Positive psychotherapy for young adults and children. In J. R. Z. Abela & B. L. Hankins (Eds.), Handbook of depression in children and adolescents (pp. 250–287). New York: Guilford Press.
Rohde, P., Lewinsohn, P. M., Klein, D. N., Seeley, J. R., & Gau, J. M. (2012). Key characteristics of major depressive disorder occurring in childhood, adolescence, emerging adulthood, and adulthood. Clinical Psychological Science, XX(X), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167702612457599.
Romano, A., Negreiros, J., & Martins, T. (2007). Contributos para a validação da escala de auto-estima de Rosenberg numa amostra de adolescentes da região interior norte do país. Psicologia, Saúde & Doenças, 8(1), 109–116.
Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Ruini, C., Belaise, C., Brombin, E., Caffo, G. A., & Fava, A. (2006). Well-being therapy in school settings: A pilot study. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 75, 331–336. https://doi.org/10.1159/000095438.
Rusting, C., & Larsen, R. (1998). Personality and cognitive processing of affective information. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 24(2), 200–213. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167298242008.
Seligman, M. E. P., & Csikszentmihályi, M. (2000). Happiness, excellence, and optimal human functioning. American Psychologist, 55(1), 5–183.
Seligman, M. E. P., Rashid, T., & Parks, A. C. (2006). Positive psychotherapy. The American Psychologist, 61(8), 774–788. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.61.8.774.
Sin, N. L., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2009). Enhancing well-being and alleviating depressive symptoms with positive psychology interventions: A practice-friendly meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session, 65(5), 467–487. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20593.
Sund, A. M., Larsson, B., & Wichstrom, L. (2011). Prevalence and characteristics of depressive disorders in early adolescents in central Norway. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 5(28), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1186/1753-2000-5-28.
Telford, C., McCarthy-Jones, S., Corcoran, R., & Rowse, G. (2012). Experience sampling methodology studies of depression: The state of the art. Psychological Medicine, 42(6), 1119–1129. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291711002200.
Thapar, A., Collishaw, S., Pine, D. S., & Thapar, A. K. (2012). Depression in adolescence. Lancet, 379, 1056–1067. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60871-4.
Watanabe, N., Hunot, V., Omori, I. M., Churchill, R., & Furukawa, T. A. (2007). Psychotherapy for depression among children and adolescents: A systematic review. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 116(2), 84–95. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.2007.01018.x.
Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegan, A. (1988). Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54(6), 1063–1070. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.54.6.1063.
Wood, A. M., & Tarrier, N. (2010). Positive clinical psychology: A new vision and strategy for integrated research and practice. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(7), 819–829. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2010.06.003.
Zarrett, N., & Lerner, R. M. (2008). Ways to promote the positive development of children and youth. Child Trends Research to Results Brief Publication, 2008–2011.
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful for the contribution of the adolescent that participated in this study and her parents. The authors thank Keith Gissubel for his assistance in the English revision of this manuscript.
Funding
The first author is supported by a doctoral grant from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (SFRH/BD/102728/2014). This study was conducted at Psychology Research Centre (UID/PSI/01662/2013), University of Minho, and supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education through national funds and co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE2020 under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that they do not have any conflict of interest.
Ethical Approval
All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
Informed Consent
Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Teixeira, A., Freire, T. From therapy to daily life of a depressed adolescent: Crossing psychopathology and optimal functioning. Curr Psychol 39, 155–166 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-017-9748-8
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-017-9748-8