The effect of hope enhancing training on behavioral strengths in dysthymic patients

Positive psychology includes the study of positive subjective experiences, such as: well being and happiness, positive individual traits, such as hope and forgiveness and interpersonal strengths, such as altruism and sense of accepting the community. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of hope enhancing training on level of behavioral strengths in dysthymic patients. In an experimental study 40 patients with dysthymic disorder were randomly selected and assigned to two experimental and control groups. At first, the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths (VIA- IS) test was performed on them as the pre- test. Then the experimental group received 6 sessions of hope enhancing training. The control group did not receive any training. At the end of the training, the (VIA- IS) was again performed on all subjects as the post- test. The results of analysis of data showed that after hope enhancing training, the means of the characters strengths of the training group were significantly higher than control group (P<0.001). Hope enhancing training is an effective intervention to improve strengths of Forgiveness, Self regulation, Modesty and Humility and prudence.