Jeffrey Lam1, Awais Aftab2,3, Ellen Lee4,5,6, Dilip Jeste4,5,7. 1. Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island. 2. Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland OH. 3. Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare (Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services), Northfield, OH. 4. Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA. 5. Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA. 6. Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA. 7. Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Positive psychiatry shifts the focus of geriatric mental healthcare beyond studying disorders and psychopathology to studying factors that contribute to mental well-being and successful aging. An increasing number of interventional studies are using treatments that target modifiable positive psychosocial characteristics (PPCs) and study their impact on mental health. Here we provide an overview of the literature on positive psychiatry interventions using illustrative examples of interventions targeting social connectedness, meaning in life, wisdom, and resilience. RECENT FINDINGS: There is growing evidence that PPCs are modifiable constructs that may be associated with improved well-being, physical health, and mental health outcomes. SUMMARY: The preliminary evidence summarized in this narrative review indicates that positive psychiatry interventions targeting social connectedness, meaning in life, wisdom, and resilience can improve overall well-being and other positive health outcomes amongst older adults. The effect sizes of these interventions reported in RCTs and meta-analyses are typically small to medium, but occasionally large effect sizes are also reported. Current literature is restricted by heterogeneous methodology, limiting clinicians' abilities to extrapolate these principles of positive psychiatry into everyday practice. With the expanding body of evidence, positive psychiatry may have the potential to transform the landscape of geriatric mental health.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Positive psychiatry shifts the focus of geriatric mental healthcare beyond studying disorders and psychopathology to studying factors that contribute to mental well-being and successful aging. An increasing number of interventional studies are using treatments that target modifiable positive psychosocial characteristics (PPCs) and study their impact on mental health. Here we provide an overview of the literature on positive psychiatry interventions using illustrative examples of interventions targeting social connectedness, meaning in life, wisdom, and resilience. RECENT FINDINGS: There is growing evidence that PPCs are modifiable constructs that may be associated with improved well-being, physical health, and mental health outcomes. SUMMARY: The preliminary evidence summarized in this narrative review indicates that positive psychiatry interventions targeting social connectedness, meaning in life, wisdom, and resilience can improve overall well-being and other positive health outcomes amongst older adults. The effect sizes of these interventions reported in RCTs and meta-analyses are typically small to medium, but occasionally large effect sizes are also reported. Current literature is restricted by heterogeneous methodology, limiting clinicians' abilities to extrapolate these principles of positive psychiatry into everyday practice. With the expanding body of evidence, positive psychiatry may have the potential to transform the landscape of geriatric mental health.
Entities:
Keywords:
compassion; meaning in life; resilience; social engagement; spirituality; successful aging; wisdom
Authors: D V Jeste; G S Alexopoulos; S J Bartels; J L Cummings; J J Gallo; G L Gottlieb; M C Halpain; B W Palmer; T L Patterson; C F Reynolds; B D Lebowitz Journal: Arch Gen Psychiatry Date: 1999-09
Authors: Encarnación Ramírez; Ana Raquel Ortega; Alberto Chamorro; José María Colmenero Journal: Aging Ment Health Date: 2013-11-14 Impact factor: 3.658