Effect of compassion‐focused group therapy on psychological symptoms in mothers of attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder children: A pilot study

Effects of Self-Compassion Interventions on Reducing Depressive Symptoms, Anxiety, and Stress: A Meta-Analysis

Objectives

A growing body of evidence shows self-compassion can play a key role in alleviating depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress in various populations. Interventions fostering self-compassion have recently received increased attention. This meta-analysis aimed to identify studies that measured effects of self-compassion focused interventions on reducing depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress.

Methods

A comprehensive search was conducted within four databases to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The quality of the included RCTs was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration risk-of-bias tool. Either a random-effects model or fixed-effects model was used. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to types of control groups, intervention delivery modes, and the involvement of directly targeted populations with psychological distress symptoms.

Results

Fifty-six RCTs met the eligibility criteria. Meta-analyses showed self-compassion focused interventions had small to medium effects on reducing depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress at the immediate posttest and small effects on reducing depressive symptoms and stress at follow-up compared to control conditions. The overall risk of bias across included RCTs was high.

Conclusions

Fewer studies were conducted to compare effects of self-compassion interventions to active control conditions. Also, fewer studies involved online self-compassion interventions than in-person interventions and directly targeted people with distress symptoms. Further high-quality studies are needed to verify effects of self-compassion interventions on depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress. As more studies are implemented, future meta-analyses of self-compassion interventions may consider conducting subgroup analyses according to intervention doses, specific self-compassion intervention techniques involved, and specific comparison or control groups.

Preregistration

This study is not preregistered.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12671-023-02148-x.

The effectiveness of compassion focused therapy with clinical populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Over the last 20 years, compassion focused therapy (CFT) has gained popularity as an emerging 'third wave' intervention. Although previous reviews indicated its potential benefits, a systematic review and meta-analysis of CFT in those with mental health difficulties has yet to be conducted.

METHODS

A systematic search of five databases was undertaken, focusing on randomised controlled trials and randomised pilot/feasibility studies of CFT only. No language restrictions were implemented. A narrative synthesis was conducted. Random effects meta-analyses were measured on levels of self-compassion, self-criticism/self-reassurance, fears of compassion and clinical symptomology.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies from 2013 to 2022 were included. Findings suggested that CFT was effective in improving compassion-based outcomes and clinical symptomology from baseline to post-intervention and compared to waitlist control. A range of small to large effect sizes were reported for improvements in self-compassion (0.19-0.90), self-criticism (0.15-0.72), self-reassurance (0.43-0.81), fear of self-compassion (0.18), depression (0.24-0.25) and eating disorders (0.18-0.79). Meta-analyses favoured CFT in improving levels of self-compassion and self-reassurance than control groups.

LIMITATIONS

The methodological quality of many of the included studies (7/15) was rated as 'unclear' due to a lack of information. There was a distinct gender gap, with 74.88% identifying as female participants.

CONCLUSIONS

This review was the first to examine the effectiveness of CFT in clinical populations. The results indicate that CFT has promising clinical implications, suggesting that the intervention increases compassion-based outcomes and reduces clinical symptomology in those with mental health difficulties. However, future research is required into the long-term effects of CFT.

Theory Paper: Suggesting Compassion-Based Approaches for Treating Complex Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) may develop following interpersonal and cumulative traumatic events, usually during early development. In addition to the core PTSD symptom profile, CPTSD presents emotional dysregulation symptoms that can be resistant to conventional treatments. Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) may be an effective intervention for addressing the more resistant symptoms in the emotional stabilisation phase of treatment rather than the trauma-processing phase. This paper explores the diagnostic validity and prevalence of CPTSD, treatment recommendations and the role of CFT in mediating shame and stabilising emotional dysregulation. We also evaluate current evidence utilising compassion-based interventions for the components of the CPTSD symptom profile and the viability of CFT as a whole. The novelty of CPTSD as a clinical condition means there is limited evidence regarding recommended treatment. Research into the efficacy of CFT and its suitability to target CPTSD’s symptom profile will contribute to the current gap in recommended treatment approaches for this condition.

Compassion focused therapy: a systematic review of its effectiveness and acceptability in clinical populations

Introduction: Compassion focused therapy (CFT) is an increasingly popular therapeutic modality. Its holistic and integrative approach to universal human suffering means that it is well placed as a transdiagnostic therapy. Research into its effectiveness and acceptability has increased over the previous 10 years as the therapy has evolved, and to help consider its status as an evidence-based therapy research concerning its treatment outcomes needs evaluating.Areas covered: This paper reviews research investigating the effectiveness of CFT in clinical populations.Expert opinion: CFT shows promise for a range of mental health problems, especially when delivered in a group format over at least 12 hours. This is important for funding bodies and commissioning groups to consider as they allocate healthcare resources in light of current evidence-based practice. CFT is demonstrably well accepted by clients and clinicians and there is now a clear need for an updated, universally deployed, standard manual to direct future research. This will be critical in enabling widespread implementation and further adoption into mainstream clinical practice, will address the lack of standardization in the current research, and pave the way for further randomized control trials aimed at reducing existing methodological limitations.