Cultivating Well-being in Severe Psychiatric Conditions

Cultivating Well-being Beyond Symptomatology in Severe Psychiatric Conditions: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The multicomponet psychological intervention is called Feliz-Mente, with third generation therapy components that aims to improve wellbeing and self-enhancement. Without intervening directly on the symptoms, it is expected to increase positive experiences, the use of personal strengths and positive relationships, and aims to build a more meaningful self-narrative in persons with severe psychiatric conditions. Feliz-Mente is a group intervention of 12 sessions in which participants are expected to perform exercises during and between sessions to improve treatment adherence and daily practice. The design for the present study is a randomized controlled trial, which compares the post-intervention measures of the experimental group (group receiving the intervention) with the post-intervention measures of the control group (treatment as usual + waiting list).

Inclusion Criteria:

• 1) were aged 18-65 years
• 2) had a minimum of motivation and commitment to participate in group therapy

Exclusion Criteria:

• 1) limited cognitive resources or serious formal thinking disorder and/or
• 2) a concurrent diagnosis of substance dependence or a severe personality disorder that could interfere with benefiting from a psychotherapy group.