Introduction
suicidality, depression, anxiety
EVENT
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused marked increases in anxiety and depression around the world.The rise in mental health needs globally has led to the need for psychological interventions that can be delivered during the pandemic. In many countries affected by the pandemic, there is a shortage of mental health services, many people cannot access mainstream services because of lockdowns or fear of being infected or many people are experiencing mental health problems for the first time and so are not accustomed to seeking mainstream mental health services.One therapeutic approach that has not been evaluated for distress during the pandemic is positive affect training, which is a recent adaptation of cognitive behavioural techniques. This treatment differs from existing treatment packages because it focuses on strategies to enhance hedonic capacity that include positive event scheduling, imagination exercises to promote rewarding experiences and training savouring of the pleasurable aspects of positive experiences.This trial evaluated a brief, transdiagnostic intervention provided during the pandemic that was an adaptation of positive affect training. Specifically, the current trial integrated positive affect training components into the programme and compared its efficacy relative to enhanced usual care (EUC). We hypothesised that the intervention would lead to reduce anxiety, depression and suicidality relative to EUC.