Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

T he primary aim of research was to study the effect of Positive Psychotherapy (Rashid & Seligman, 2005) with currently abstinent alcohol dependents in maintaining abstinence from drinking. The effect of positive psychotherapy on abstinence self -efficacy and happiness was also studied. Self -efficacy and negative affect are known predictors of relapse.Purposive sampling was used and screening was done using Personal Growth Initiative Scale (PGIS) by Robitscheck (1998). Experimental group (n=5) and control group (n=5) were assessed during pre and post intervention on Abstinence Self - Efficacy using Alcohol Abstinence Self - Efficacy Scale (AASE) by DiClemente (1998) and on Happiness using Positive Psychotherapy Inventory (PPI) by Rashid (2005) . Positive Psychotherapy which focuses on (strengths, past memories, gratitude, forgiveness, optimism, hope, love and attachment) was carried out with the experimental group over 14 sessions. The results suggested significant increase in the level of abstinence self - efficacy and happiness, which was predicted to have aided the clients to maintain abstinence. No significant difference was found in control group's performance. Significant effect of Positive Psychotherapy in maintaining abstinence was thus predicted with some confidence

Biography

Kirandeep Kaur is a 26 year old certified Clinical Psychologist from New Delhi India, completed her M.Phil Clinical Psychology Supervised practical clinical training from Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences Delhi India. She received her two year training from this unique institute with its multi-disciplinary approach through its clinical (Psychiatry, Neurology and Neurosurgery) and social (Clinical Psychology, Psychiatric social work and Medical Anthropology) to ensure a truly comprehensive management of mental and neurological disorders. The focus of her thesis research was on a very new concept , the role of positive psychology based intervention to motivate abstinent alcohol dependents to keep maintaing the abstinence. The research was one of its kind in India. She completed her Bachelors in Applied Psychology followed by Masters in Clinical Psychology from University of Delhi. She also qualified National Eligibility Test (NET), National Level Examination for lectureship in colleges and universities in India. Presented various papers at national and international conferences and in process of getting more of her work published. Her areas of interest include substance addiction and its management, Prevention of mental illness, self regulation in mental health and Psycho oncology. She has also received training in various short term courses to keep self-abreast with latest developments in mental health and illness. Currently she is serving as a Clinical Psychologist in a renowned cancer hospital New Delhi India