Clinical trial NCT02321605: Efficacy of Best Possible Self Intervention Over Time
Official title: Efficacy of Best Possible Self Intervention Over Time: A Randomized Control Trial
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Best Possible Self Intervention
Keywords: Best Possible Self
Positive Psychology
Optimism
Positive Technology
Future Thinking
Lead sponsor: Universitat Jaume I
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2014-12-22
Enrollment: 78
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 70
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: This study is aimed to test the efficacy of a Positive Psychology Intervention (Best Possible Self) over optimism, future expectancies and positive affect at mid-term, in comparison to a control group. The principal hypothesis is that Best Possible Self intervention will enhance significantly the levels of optimism and positive affect in comparison to the control group at short and mid-term.

Detailed description: Over the last fifteen years, research in the field of positive psychology has increased exponentially (Bolier, Haverman, Westerhof, Riper, Smit \& Bohlmeijer, 2013; Sin \& Lyubomirsky, 2009). These studies have shown that positive moods and positive emotions lead people to think, feel, and act in favor of their approach goals, promoting their involvement in them (Lyubomirsky, 2001). One of the main arms of this framework, is the development of exercises and treatment protocols aimed to promote the appearance of different positive emotions and states, called Positive Psychology Interventions (PPIs).

In this sense, Best Possible Self (BPS) has been included as a PPI, since is aimed to enhance wellbeing. Specifically, BPS is a positive future thinking technique, which requires people to envision themselves in the future, after everything has gone as good as it possibly could. This exercise has shown efficacy improving optimism, future expectancies and positive affect compared to a control condition, in general population (Meevissen, Peters \& Alberts, 2011; Sheldon \&Lyubomirsky, 2012; Peters, Flink, Boersma \& Linton, 2010).

Furthermore, the progress of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), has allowed the development of technology applications and devices that could enhance the quality of experience and the wellbeing levels. This approach is called Positive Technology (PT) and it can be used as a complement to PPIs. PT can be defined as the scientific and applied approach to improve the quality of our personal experience trying to increase wellness and generate strengths (Riva, Baños, Botella, Wiederhold \& Gaggioli, 2012).

Taking into account the prior literature, the aim of the present study is to carry out a randomized controlled study in order to replicate the findings about the effects of BPS on optimism, mood and affect in young general population. The exercise will be applied through a Positive Technology system and the effects will be analyzed during four months. The design employed in this study is similar to the used in other studies (Meevissen et al, 2011; Renner, Schwarz, Peters \& Huibers, 2014; Sheldon \& Lyubomirsky, 2006).

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Be between 18 and 70 years old.
* Be willing to participate in the study.
* Have an e-mail address.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Presence of severe physical illness.
* Presence of psychological disorders.
* Be receiving psychological treatment.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Subjective Probability Task (SPT; MacLeod, 1996).
timeFrame: 4 months
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS, Watson, Clark & Tellegen, 1988; Sandín et al., 1999).
timeFrame: 4 months
measure: Life Orientation Test (Lot-R; Otero, Luengo, Romero Gómez & Castro, 1998; Scheier, Carver & Bridges, 1994).
timeFrame: 4 months
measure: Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II; Beck, 1996)
timeFrame: 4 months
Other outcomes:
measure: Eysenck Personality Questionnaire - Revised - Neuroticism (EPQ-R-N; Eysenck, Eysenck & Barrett, 1985; Eysenck & Eysenck, 1997).
timeFrame: Baseline
Locations:
city: Castellón
country: Spain
facility: University Jaume I
Study officials:
affiliation: Universitat Jaume I
name: Cristina Botella, Professor
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
affiliation: Universitat Jaume I
name: Juana M Bretón, Assistant Professor
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
affiliation: Universitat Jaume I
name: Angel Enrique, PhD student
role: STUDY_CHAIR
References:
citation: Botella C, Riva G, Gaggioli A, Wiederhold BK, Alcaniz M, Banos RM. The present and future of positive technologies. Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw. 2012 Feb;15(2):78-84. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2011.0140. Epub 2011 Dec 9.
citation: Meevissen YM, Peters ML, Alberts HJ. Become more optimistic by imagining a best possible self: effects of a two week intervention. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 2011 Sep;42(3):371-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2011.02.012. Epub 2011 Mar 2.
citation: Peters, M. L., Flink, I. K., Boersma, K. y Linton, S. J. (2010). Manipulating optimism: Can imagining a best possible self be used to increase positive future expectancies? The Journal of Positive Psychology, 5(3), 204-211.
citation: Sheldon, K. M., y Lyubomirsky, S. (2006). How to increase and sustain positive emotion: The effects of expressing gratitude and visualizing best possible selves. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 1(2), 73-82.
citation: Baños, R. M., Etchemendy, E., Farfallini, L., García-Palacios, A., Quero, S., & Botella, C. (2014). EARTH of Well-Being System: A pilot study of an Information and Communication Technology-based positive psychology intervention. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 9(6), 482-488.