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PACIfIC

Randomised controlled implementation study to increase positive affect in cognitive behavioural therapy

Project overview

Positive affect can be defined as the subjective experience of an emotional state with pleasant valence and is a central component of subjective well-being. Although many mental disorders are associated with a dampening of positive emotions and moods, meta-analyses show that evidence-based therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy do not adequately target these deficits in positive affect. The PACIfIC study investigates (1) how patients' positive affect develops during cognitive behavioural therapy and which factors moderate the course and (2) whether positive affect and other outcome variables can be improved by a positive imagination intervention within the therapy sessions.

Further information

Associated publications

  • Schürmann-Vengels, J., Flückiger, C., Reyer, E., Odyniec, P., & Willutzki, U. (2024). The impact of mental imagery instructions on patients' and therapists' positive affect and strength-based behaviours within psychotherapy sessions: a randomized controlled process study. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 31(4): e3036. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.3036
  • Schürmann-Vengels, J., Victor, P. P., Odyniec, P., Flückiger, C., Teismann, T., & Willutzki, U. (2022). A mental imagery micro-intervention to increase positive affect in outpatient CBT sessions (PACIfIC): study protocol of a randomised controlled implementation trial. Clinical Psychology in Europe, 4(2), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.32872/cpe.7043

Project management