Positive psychological interventions for neurological disorders: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychology
• Evidence-based practice

Background:

• Neurological diseases often impair psychological well-being due to brain damage and chronic disability.
• Positive psychological interventions (PPIs) offer a potential avenue to support mental health in these populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the efficacy of positive psychological interventions (PPIs) in individuals with neurological diseases.
• To identify types of PPIs and their impact on psychological well-being.

Main Methods:

• Searched major databases (PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO) from 1980 to 2017.
• Included 31 studies, 19 of which were randomized controlled trials.
• Assessed study quality using NHLBI tools; identified six distinct PPI categories.

Main Results:

• Six types of PPIs were identified: mindfulness-based, positive savoring, life summary, expressive-based, hope-based, and character strengths.
• These interventions demonstrated improvements in quality of life and reductions in symptomatic distress and depressive symptoms.
• Many included studies had small sample sizes, and quality varied, with 12 rated as high quality.

Conclusions:

• Positive psychological interventions show promise in enhancing well-being for patients with neurological deficits.
• More high-quality randomized controlled trials with adequate statistical power are necessary to solidify PPIs as evidence-based treatments.