An Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial of Personalized Lifestyle Advice and Tandem Skydives as a Means to Reduce Anhedonia

• Published in: Behavior therapy 2017-01, Vol.48 (1), p.76-96
• Main Authors: Van Roekel, E, Vrijen, C, Heininga, V.E, Masselink, M, Bos, E.H, Oldehinkel, A.J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Anhedonia; Aviation; Depression - prevention & control; ecological momentary intervention; Female; Humans; Life Style; lifestyle advice; loss of pleasure; Male; Motivation; Pleasure; Psychiatry; Reward; Surveys and Questionnaires; tandem skydive; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0005-7894; 1878-1888
• DOI: 10.1016/j.beth.2016.09.009

Abstract Objective Anhedonia is a major public health concern and has proven particularly difficult to counteract. It has been hypothesized that anhedonia can be deterred by engagement in rewarding social and physical events. The aims of the present study were to examine (1) the effects of personalized lifestyle advice based on observed individual patterns of lifestyle factors and experienced pleasure in anhedonic young adults; and (2) whether a tandem skydive can enhance the motivation to carry out the recommended lifestyle changes. Method Participants (N = 69; Mage = 21.5, SD = 2.0; 79.7% female) were selected through an online screening survey among young adults. Inclusion criteria were persistent anhedonia and willingness to perform a tandem skydive. Participants filled out questionnaires on their smartphones for two consecutive months (3x per day). After the first month, they were randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) no intervention, (2) lifestyle advice, and (3) lifestyle advice and tandem skydive. The momentary questionnaire data were analyzed using interrupted time series analyses (ITSA) in a multilevel model and monthly pleasure and depression questionnaires by repeated measures ANOVA. Results No group differences were found in monthly depression and pleasure scores, but the momentary data showed higher positive affect (PA) and pleasure ratings in the month following the intervention in the two intervention groups than in the control group. The tandem skydive did not have any effects above the effects of the lifestyle advice. Conclusion Our results indicate that providing personalized lifestyle advice to anhedonic young adults can be an effective way to increase PA and pleasure.