Background. There is increasing awareness of the prognostic
value of residual symptomatology in
affective disorders and of the need for specific therapeutic strategies
in this phase of illness. The aims
of the study were to apply a novel, short-term psychotherapeutic approach
for increasing well-being, based on Ryff's conceptual model, to
remitted patients with affective disorders and to
compare the results with those obtained with symptom-oriented cognitive
behavioural strategies.
Methods. 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
well-being enhancing therapeutic strategy (well-being therapy) or
cognitive–behavioural treatment of residual symptoms.
Results. Both well-being and cognitive–behavioural
therapies were associated with a significant
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 suggest the feasibility
of
well-being therapy in the residual
stage of affective disorders. Further research should determine its
value as a relapse-preventive strategy in specific mood and anxiety disorders.