The Effectiveness of Positive Psychotherapy in Increasing Happiness and Psychological Well-being in People with Depression Symptoms: A Multiple- baseline Study

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy in increasing happiness and psychological well-being in people with symptoms of depression. Accordingly, a single-subject-multiple baseline with follow- up phase was conducted. Three individuals with depressive symptoms were recruited from a center of psychology and counseling in Tehran by purposeful sampling. Participants attended 3 to7 weeks baseline phase. Within base line stage (3-7 weeks) therapy phase (6 weekly) and follow up step (2 month after treatment), patients filled out Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Ryff’s Psychological Well-being Inventory, The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire, Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), of Diner, and Orientations of Happiness Scale, of Peterson. Treatment conducted in 6 sessions of 45 minutes, each. All three participants showed decreasing trend in depression scores (71%) and increasing trend in The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (46%) Ryff’s Psychological Well-being Inventory (21%) and Satisfaction With Life Scale (61%). These results remained after 2 months follow-up phase. It seems that positive psychotherapy is a short-term effective treatment for decreasing depression and increasing happiness, well-being and satisfaction with life in individuals with depression symptoms.