Affective Changes During Cognitive Behavioural Therapy-As Measured by PANAS
Lars Saxon1, Sophie Henriksson1, Adam Kvarnström1
1Department of Social and Psychological Studies, Section of Psychology, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden.
Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health : CP & EMH
|January 2, 2018
Summary
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) improves emotional well-being by increasing positive affect and decreasing negative affect. This therapy also positively influences affective personality traits, promoting healthier emotional states.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychotherapy Research
Background:
- Previous research suggests Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) positively impacts self-reported affect.
- Understanding the relationship between affective personality and psychopathology changes during CBT is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between affective personality and psychopathology before and after CBT.
- To analyze how affective personality shifts in relation to different presenting problems (depressive, anxious, mixed).
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 73 clients undergoing CBT were assessed pre- and post-therapy.
- Participants were categorized based on their primary issue: depressive, anxious, or mixed.
Main Results:
- Clients reported significantly higher positive affect (d=0.66) and lower negative affect (d=0.98) post-CBT.
- A significant change in affective personality distribution was observed (p=.04), irrespective of the problem area.
- The most pronounced shifts in affective personality were seen in self-actualization and self-destructive types.
Conclusions:
- CBT is effective in modifying both emotional affect and underlying affective personality traits.
- Therapeutic interventions can lead to measurable changes in how individuals experience and express emotions.
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