Positive Psychiatry

Abstract

Traditionally, psychiatry has been defined and practiced as a branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses. Based on growing empirical evidence, we believe that this definition warrants expansion to include the concept of positive psychiatry. In the present article we provide a critical overview of this emerging field and a select review of relevant scientific literature. Positive psychiatry may be defined as the science and practice of psychiatry that seeks to understand and promote well-being through assessment and interventions involving positive psychosocial characteristics (PPCs) in people who suffer from or are at high risk of developing mental or physical illnesses. It can also benefit non-clinical populations. Positive psychiatry has 4 main components: (1) positive mental health outcomes (e.g., well-being), (2) PPCs that comprise psychological traits (resilience, optimism, personal mastery and coping self-efficacy, social engagement, spirituality and religiosity, and wisdom - including compassion) and environmental factors (family dynamics, social support, and other environmental determinants of overall health), (3) biology of positive psychiatry constructs, and (4) positive psychiatry Interventions including preventive ones. There are promising empirical data to suggest that positive traits may be improved through psychosocial and biological interventions. As a branch of medicine, rooted in biology, psychiatry, especially with the proposed conceptualization of positive psychiatry, is well poised to provide major contributions to the positive mental health movement, thereby impacting the overall healthcare of the population.

Resilience, risk, mental health and well-being: associations and conceptual differences

“…Resilience and well-being have become popular terms and are central constructs in positive psychiatry and psychology [26]. However, both terms have so far defied universal definition and common understanding of their measurement.…”

“…Furthermore, future studies should also aim to specify possible core features of resilience across developmental stages, cultures and specific adverse living conditions such as war, migration, maltreatment, or living with a family member with severe mental illness, and the severity of adversities to be faced. This could be a starting point for an in-depth understanding of (sub)cultural variations in resilience and the pathways from resilience to positive outcome and well-being, as well as an important step towards positive psychiatry [26] and the development of preventive and resilience-enhancing treatments [12].…”

Possible mechanisms in a multicomponent email guided positive psychology intervention to improve mental well-being, anxiety and depression: A multiple mediation model

“…There is a rapidly growing interest for well-being as an important aspect of mental health and an important outcome of treatment (Forsman et al, 2015;Jeste, Palmer, Rettew, & Boardman, 2015;Kobau et al, 2011;Wood & Tarrier, 2010). Mental well-being is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon that encompasses various emotional, psychological and social dimensions.…”

RESILIENCE, PSYCHIATRY AND RELIGION FROM PUBLIC AND GLOBAL MENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVE Dialogue and Cooperation in the Search for Humanistic Self, Compassionate Society and Empathic Civilization

“…Resilience, spirituality, well-being, salutogenesis and positive mental health have become commonplace terms and are essential constructs in trans-disciplinary integrative psychiatry, positive psychiatry and psychology (see Jakovljevic 2012, Jeste et al 2015. However, there is no general agreement on the definitions and relationships of these constructs.…”