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The Science of HappinessLessons from Positive Psychiatry
Erick Messias, MD, MPH, PhD
Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, COM/UAMS
Professor of Psychiatry
Level of Functioning
1. Signs & Symptoms2. Diagnosis & Treatment3. Disease & Morbidity4. Negative emotions5. Clinical Psychiatry
1. Strengths & Capacities2. Prevention & Management3. Happiness & Wellbeing4. Positive emotions5. Positive Psychiatry
Positive Psychiatry: What is it and Why it is needed
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Positive Psychiatry is the application of Positive Psychology principles and tools, which include Positive Psychotherapy, to those with mental disorders or at risk of developing them.
Nossrat Peseschkian, MDPositive Psychotherapy1977
Martin Seligman, PhDPositive Psychology1998
Dilip Jeste, MDPositive Psychiatry2013
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Stuck in the negative (Loss vs. Gain Frame)
Group 1 Group 2
30% failure70% success
30% failure 70% success
Converting Loss to Gain and Gain to Loss
Group 1
• If 100 lives are saved, how many will be lost?
Group 2
• If 100 lives are lost, how many will be saved?
600‐100 = ?
New Disease, 600 lives are at stake
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Time to solve the problem – in seconds
0
2
4
6
8
10
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Gain to Loss Loss to Gain
Seven Principles of Positive Psychology/Psychiatry
1. The Happiness Advantage
2. Growth vs. Fixed Mindset
3. Problem Talk vs. Solution Talk
4. Post Traumatic Growth
5. The Law of Small – and Sustained – Change
6. The Power of (Good) Habits
7. The Power of We
Reframing from “The Happiness Advantage” by Shawn Achor
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1. The Happiness Advantage
Success Happiness
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1. The Happiness Advantage
1. The Happiness Advantage
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2. Growth vs. Fixed Mindset
2. Growth vs. Fixed Mindset
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2. Growth vs. Fixed Mindset
3. Problem Talk vs. Solution Talk
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3. Problem Talk vs. Solution Talk
4. Post Traumatic Growth
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4. Post Traumatic Growth
Positive Growth1. Spirituality2. Compassion for others3. Openness4. Overall Life Satisfaction
Who are these people? 1. Positive re‐interpretation of events2. Optimism3. Acceptance4. Coping mechanisms
1. Focusing on solving/dealing with the problem
5. The Law of Small – and Sustained – Change
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5. The Law of Small – and Sustained – Change
Principles of Solution Focus Therapy
1. You don’t have to understand the cause of a problem to solve it.
2. Focusing on the future creates more useful energy that focusing on the Past
3. Clients have skills, strengths, and resources they have used before and can use again.
4. Small Steps lead to big changes
5. Differences make the difference
Problem Talk Solution Focus
1. What’s the biggest issue here?
2. What’s the root cause of the issue?
3. What’s keeping you stuck?
4. What causes you to keep repeating the same behavior?
5. Why do we still have these problems?
1. What possibilities exist that we have not yet considered?
2. What has worked before?
3. What’s the smallest change that could make the biggest impact?
4. What solutions would create a win?
5. What inspires you? What makes this situation inspiring, energizing, and mobilizing?
Challenge for Thought: Solution‐Focused
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6. The Power of (Good) Habits
6. The Power of (Good) Habits
You cannot extinguish a old habit but you can change it
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7. The Power of We
7. The Power of We
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Seven Principles of Positive Psychology/Psychiatry
1. The Happiness Advantage
2. Growth vs. Fixed Mindset
3. Problem Talk vs. Solution Talk
4. Post Traumatic Growth
5. The Law of Small – and Sustained – Change
6. The Power of (Good) Habits
7. The Power of We
Reframing from “The Happiness Advantage” by Shawn Achor
Happiness is Love – Full StopGeorge Valliant
80 year Harvard Project, the Study of Adult Development