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Evolving from Clinical to Positive Psychology: Understanding and Measuring Patients' Strengths: A Pilot Study

Bellier-Teichmann, Tanja ; Pomini, Valentino

In: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 2015, vol. 45, no. 2, p. 99-108

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    Titre
    • Evolving from Clinical to Positive Psychology: Understanding and Measuring Patients' Strengths: A Pilot Study
    Auteur
    • Bellier-Teichmann, Tanja. Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Quartier Mouline, Geopolis, Bureau numéro 4109, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
    • Pomini, Valentino. Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Quartier Mouline, Geopolis, Bureau numéro 4109, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
    Type de document
    • Postprint
    Langue
    • Anglais
    Publié dans
    • Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 2015, vol. 45, no. 2, p. 99-108. Springer US; http://www.springer-ny.com
    Autre version électronique
    Identifiant OAI-PMH
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:333054
    Summary
    Empirical evidence suggests that concentrating on patients' internal and external strengths serves a preventative function against psychopathology. However, standardized tools assessing strengths of patients suffering from mental disorders are rare and often limited to research purposes. As current practice in mental health rarely stresses the importance of patients' personal resources, the feasibility of strengths-based assessments has rarely been validated within such a population. We designed a new instrument, the Strengths Q-sort Self-Assessment Scale, aimed at identifying patients' strengths profile. This new scale measures 30 strengths classified in three sections: (i) personal characteristics, (ii) hobbies/passions, (iii) environmental/social strengths. In order to be adjusted for patients with cognitive or language impairments, this instrument is based on a Q-Sort method with figurative items. The aim of this study was to test the feasibility and acceptability of this scale in a sample of 21 psychiatric patients. Preliminary results showed that this tool can easily be administered and is well appreciated by patients. Feedback from clinicians highlight the benefits of identifying the strengths profiles in order to help defining realistic shared clinical objectives based on patients' strengths.