This study evaluates the effectiveness of a Positive Psychology intervention, that is focused on increasing the positive emotions and strengths of human beings. It is compared to the effectiveness of an online treatment with the change of the same participants before and after receiving the treatment accompanied by a chat support service vs. the treatment solely. The changes are being assessed through worldwide validated measures such as psychometrics.
The outbreak of the new coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has become a public health emergency of
international concern that has not only threatened people's physical health but has also
affected mental health and psychological well-being. Among the several symptoms can be
observed an affected sleep quality, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety,
depression, and complicated grief, among others.
To provide treatment in such conditions where face-to-face sessions are not possible, and the
number of patients surpasses the number of available therapists it will be implemented an
online intervention based on positive psychology. positive Psychology has been defined as the
scientific study of positive experiences, positive individual traits, the institutions that
facilitate their development, and the programs that help to improve the quality of life of
the individuals while preventing or reducing the incidence of psychopathology.
The online intervention system Mental Health Platform COVID-19 will be delivered in 15
modules interconnected, implemented one per session. The objective of this study is to assess
the efficacy and moderators of change of an intervention program based on the Positive
Psychology approach for the reduction of anxious and depressive symptoms, increase of
positive emotions and sleep quality during and after the contingency by COVID-19 by means of
a telepsychology.
This study will have two intervention groups, one that will receive the online intervention
plus a chat added element. The chat service will be provided by clinical therapists through
the Tawk application where participants can receive help if they have questions about a
module and its activities or a technical problem, in addition to other functions. The
comparison group will receive the same intervention however will not include the chat
service. In both conditions, the participants will be measured pre and post. The subjective
measures will include the following psychometrics:
1. Scale of Post-traumatic Stress Traits in the Mexican Youth Exposed to Social Violence.
2. Widespread fear Scale.
3. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).
4. Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale.
5. Beck Depression Scale (BDI-II)
6. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
7. Suicidal Thoughts Scale.
Behavioral: Online Intervention Mental Health COVID-19
The Online Intervention Mental Health COVID-19 aims to provide to the target population a self-applied intervention based primarily on Positive Psychology, aimed at the recognition and development of strengths and virtues from the well-being approach. In addition, it is supported by elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy such as the components of emotion and the Antecedent-Response-Consequence (ARC) model of emotions. Elements of Behavioral Activation Therapy are also included, such as the importance of physical exercise and the relationship between physical anxiety and its effects on anxiety and depression. The intervention is made up of 15 modules that are adapted to the symptoms that the population may suffer from the global contingency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the Positive Psychology modules, a module with psychoeducation on grief and loss was added.
Inclusion Criteria:
- To have access to a communication device with access to the internet (computer,
tablet, and mobile).
- To have a valid email address.
- To have basic digital skills in the use of an operational system and internet
browsing.
- To understand Spanish since all the contents are in this language
Exclusion Criteria:
- To have a diagnosis of psychotic disorder.
- To be receiving psychological and / or pharmacological treatment during the study
Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez
Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico