A Preliminary Investigation on the Effectiveness of Compassionate Mind Training for Students with Major Depressive Disorder: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

High self-criticism and a low self-reassurance and self-compassion have found to play a key role in the development of college students’ depressive symptoms. The current pilot study was conducted in Iran with the aim to evaluate the effectiveness of an 8-session outpatient compassionate mind training (CMT) on symptoms of depression, anger rumination, self-criticism, self-compassion, and fear of compassion in students diagnosed with major depressive disorder. All participants (30 women, age range: 21–29 years) fulfilled criteria for major depression and were randomly assigned to CMT (n = 15), or a no-treatment control group (n = 15). The treatment group underwent 8 CMT sessions, twice a week. Scores at the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Anger Rumination Scale (ARS), Forms of Self-Criticizing/Attacking & Self-Reassuring Scale (FSCRS), Fears of Compassion Scale (FOCS), and Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) were used as outcome measures. Assessments were administered pre- and post-intervention. Effectiveness of CMT was supported by significantly lower post-intervention rates of depression (F (1, 28) = 9.02, p = 0.006, η2 = 0.24), thoughts of revenge, self-hate, and fear of compassion for others in those who received CMT as compared to those in the control group. The CMT group showed also significant increases in self-reassurance and the positive parcel of self-compassion (comprised of self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness items). Results suggest that even a brief (4-week) compassionate mind training could be implemented as an effective intervention for students with major depressive disorder. Further research including a bigger and gender-balanced sample is warranted.