Journal of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing

The impact of a school-based positive psychology programme on state wellbeing in Irish school children: A cluster randomized controlled trial

2025-09-12T09:22:16+00:00

Childhood into early adolescence is a critical developmental period for mental health, with growing evidence that universal school-based wellbeing interventions can improve children’s mental health outcomes, with lifelong benefits.

The A Lust for Life (ALFL) school-based positive psychology intervention is widely implemented in Ireland, with some evidence of benefits. This cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the ALFL programme for children in fifth and sixth class grades, aged 9-13 years, using a measure of state wellbeing as the primary outcome variable, with trait measures of wellbeing, depression and anxiety as secondary outcome variables, building on previous research studies. Participants were 402 children, recruited from 9 schools, randomly allocated to a 10-week ALFL programme group (n = 180) or 10-week waiting list control group (n = 222). Outcome measures were administered pre and post intervention/waiting time. The trial showed that the ALFL schools programme led to small improvements in state wellbeing arising from using behavioural skills learned on the ALFL programme (d = 0.18, p = .034), and an increase in the use of skills learnt on the programme to promote state wellbeing (d = 0.27, p = .001), but no significant improvements in measures of trait wellbeing, anxiety or depression. This study’s use of a state wellbeing measure and its consideration of children’s real-world use of skills learnt, which are central to the evaluated intervention’s theory of change, constitute an original contribution to the research base.

Comparison of MRI brain in multiple sclerosis patients at 1.5 T and 3.0 T MRI scanners: A follow up study

2025-09-12T09:24:41+00:00

Objective:

The symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a complex autoimmune disease, are numerous. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the most sensitive technique for diagnosis and monitoring treatment of MS. Recently, the high magnetic field MRI system performed routinely for MS patients. The purpose of the study was to retrospectively evaluate the sensitivity of MRI scanning for multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions at 1.5-T and 3.0-T during 6 month follow-up period.

Method:

We retrospectively studied brain MRI at 1.5-T and 3.0-T in 28 MS patients. MRI scans were performed on two visits, at baseline and six months later. The scanning protocol was identical at all time points and the period between 1.5-T and 3.0T scans was 72 hours. The scanning protocol included contiguous axial of FLAIR, T2WI, Proton density, T1WI, and postcontrast T1 weighted imaging.

Result:

The overall mean number of lesions was significantly higher in 3 Tesla (21 lesions) compared to 1.5 Tesla (11 lesions) (P<0.05). The overall mean number of lesions was significantly higher in 3 Tesla at follow up visit (25 lesions) compared to baseline visit (21 lesions) (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the overall mean number of lesion between 1.5 tesla at follow up visit (12 lesions) compared to baseline visit (11 lesions) (P>0.05).

Conclusion:

Using high-field MRI system could improve the sensitivity for early detection of multiple sclerosis lesions. The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis would influence by strength of magnetic field scanner. A further large cohort study is recommended for protocol optimization with different scanner strength and various imaging vendors.