Positive emotion regulation coaching for depression.

摘要

There is a burgeoning literature regarding positive affect dysregulation in depression. Specifically, individuals with depression show attenuation in initial affective responsiveness to positive events, as well as in the maintenance or enhancement of positive affect over time. This study utilized a randomized controlled design to implement and evaluate an adaptation of the Written Disclosure Paradigm (WDP) that addresses positive affect dysregulation. This WDP adaptation---Positive Emotion Regulation Coaching (PERC)---is a cognitive treatment component designed to guide individuals with depressive symptoms to savor and make positive attributions for positive events. Participants were 41 female college students with dysphoric symptoms. Retention rates were high at 100%. Also, the acceptability of the intervention was strong, as indicated by few rescheduled sessions and improved mood over the course of the writing sessions in the treatment group relative to active control. There was a medium effect of PERC on depressive symptoms and a small effect of PERC on savoring. Mechanistic variables for the effect of PERC on depressive symptoms were not successfully identified. Results provide preliminary evidence for the feasibility and efficacy of the intervention and lay the foundation for future studies.