Single cases are complex Illustrated by Flink et al. 'Happy despite pain: A pilot study of a positive psychology intervention for patients with chronic pain'

摘要

In this issue of the Scandinavian Journal of Pain Ida Katrina Flink and her colleagues report a short series (n = 4) of single case experiments testing the potential impact of a positive psychology intervention for people with chronic pain on self-report measures of affect and catastrophizing [1]. The study is notable for several reasons. First, it is among the first to apply positive psychology techniques to chronic pain. Most current psychological methods are guided by the ubiquitous cognitive-behavioural strategy that focuses on 'negative' thinking and appraisal processes that are presumed to be causally related to poor adjustment. The primary aim of CBT is thus to reducing distress and improving function. By way of contrast positive psychology aims to increase the ratio of positive to negative emotions by strengthening positive affect and well-being.