Key result
Group compassion-based positive psychology intervention did not improve weekly psychological wellbeing at follow-up, but reduced depressive symptoms.
Why the study?
Patients with CVD commonly experience mental health problems, and the effectiveness of a group-based compassion-based positive psychology intervention in this population needed evaluation.
Does an 8-week group-based compassion-based positive psychology intervention improve psychological wellbeing, mental health symptoms, adaptive capacity, and positive psychological skills in patients with cardiovascular disease?
Does an 8-week group-based compassion-based positive psychology intervention improve psychological wellbeing, mental health symptoms, adaptive capacity, and positive psychological skills in patients with cardiovascular disease?
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
This multiple-baseline single-case experimental study provides preliminary evidence that an 8-week group compassion-based positive psychology intervention is feasible and may improve depressive symptoms, adaptive capacity, positive psychological skills, and wellbeing in cardiac recovery patients, though results varied across measurement methods.
BACKGROUND: Patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) commonly experience mental health problems. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a group-based compassion-based positive psychology intervention (CB-PPI) in patients with CVD. METHODS: A multiple-baseline single-case experimental design with three phases (baseline, intervention, follow-up) was used to examine the effectiveness of an eight-week group CB-PPI. Twelve participants completed weekly assessments of psychological wellbeing, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, adaptive capacity, and positive skills. Multilevel analyses were conducted to compare outcomes during the intervention and follow-up phases with the baseline phase. In addition, participants completed comprehensive questionnaires at baseline, post-intervention, and two-month follow-up. Reliable changes and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were conducted. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline phase, significant improvements in weekly assessments were observed during the follow-up phase for depressive symptoms, adaptive capacity, and positive skills. No significant effects were observed for anxiety symptoms and psychological wellbeing, and no significant differences were found between the baseline and intervention phases. Significant improvements in overall, emotional, and psychological wellbeing were found from pre- to post-intervention, as well as in positive reframing and savouring. Psychological wellbeing significantly improved from pre- to two-month follow-up. DISCUSSION: This study provides preliminary evidence that a group-based CB-PPI may support patients with CVD in developing positive skills, enhance adaptive capacity, and improve wellbeing and depressive symptoms, although results are inconsistent across methods. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings, examine mechanisms of change, and establish the clinical utility of CB-PPI in cardiovascular care.
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Tönis et al. (2026) studied Cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction, recent heart surgery, or clinically stable heart failure) (n=12). Group-based compassion-based positive psychology intervention (CB-PPI; Living Well with Heart Disease) vs. Baseline phase (within-subject control over 5, 6, or 7 weeks) was evaluated on Psychological wellbeing (measured weekly via 6-item Mental Health Continuum-Short Form [MHC-SF] subscale from baseline to follow-up phase) (SMD 0.10, 95% CI -0.10 to 0.30, p=0.267). Group compassion-based positive psychology intervention did not improve weekly psychological wellbeing at follow-up, but reduced depressive symptoms.
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