Developing an integrative model of positive psychotherapy and comparing its effectiveness with CBT, and PPT in improvement of depressive symptoms among individuals with major depression

Positive psychotherapy has some efficiencies in the treatment of depression but its effectiveness can be increased through technical and theoretical integration. The aim of the present study is to develop an integrative treatment model and comparing its effectiveness with positive psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. The research design is quasi-experimental. The population consists of all individuals with major depression in the city of Mashhad. One hundred twenty participants with major depression were included in the present study. They were allocated in four groups of integrative positive psychotherapy, positive psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and control group. All participants responded to the dysfunctional attitudes scale (Beck & Weissman 1978), Beck Depression Inventory (1979), and Values In Action-Inventory of Strengths (Petrerson & Seligman 2004). The data were analyzed through covariance analysis. No significant difference was found between the three intervention groups in the post-test. However, all intervention groups demonstrated significant differences with the control group in the post-test.In follow-up, integrative positive psychotherapy demonstrated higher effectiveness in relapse prevention in comparison to other treatments. findings of the present study demonstrated that clinical application of some character strengths can improve the effectiveness of treatment in relapse prevention.