title: Well-being therapy. A novel psychotherapeutic approach for residual symptoms of affective disorders.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Fava
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rafanelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cazzaro
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grandi
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D003289:Convalescence / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011617:Psychotherapy, Rational-Emotive / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D012649:Self Concept; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome