Compassion Focused Therapy Group Research Articles

The Effectiveness of Group Compassion-Focused Therapy on Body Image and Interpersonal Stress among Women with Breast Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Breast cancer ranks as the most common cancer among women globally, with over 6% of deaths annually attributed to this disease. Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) alters existing emotional patterns, empowering individuals to enhance their self-care and support. It diminishes self-criticism and emotional issues while fostering self-acceptance, thereby improving individuals' ability to handle their own well-being and interpersonal relationships more effectively in difficult circumstances like breast cancer. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the impact of group CFT on body image and interpersonal stress among women with breast cancer. It sought to assess the average scores for body image and interpersonal stress, along with their respective subscales, within the CFT and control groups before, after the intervention, and during the follow-up phase. Methods: The study included 44 women diagnosed with breast cancer, referred to hospitals in Kashan, Iran, in 2022. With informed consent obtained, participants were randomly allocated to the CFT group (n = 22) or the control group (n = 22). They completed the Body Image Scale (BIS) and the Interpersonal Stress Scale (ISS) before treatment, after treatment, and at a 2-month follow-up. Results: The findings indicated no significant differences in demographic variables (such as age, marital status, employment status, number of children, and education level) between the two groups. Repeated measures of analysis of variance (ANOVA) analysis demonstrated that CFT significantly improved body image and reduced interpersonal stress among women with breast cancer. Conclusions: Compassion-focused therapy proves to be a potentially effective therapeutic strategy for women with breast cancer. Further studies are necessary to comprehensively explore the benefits of CFT for breast cancer patients and its integration into conventional care practices.

A Brief Compassion Focused Therapy Intervention Can Increase Moral Expansiveness: A Randomized Controlled Trial

ObjectivesThis study investigated whether training in compassion can broaden individuals’ moral circles. In total, 102 participants, including 87 females, took part in a brief seminar on Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), which is a psychological intervention aimed at cultivating greater levels of compassion.MethodParticipants were randomized to either the CFT intervention (n = 48) or waitlist control group (n = 54). Participant levels of moral expansiveness (moral concern for human, non-human animals, and environmental entities) were measured at pre-intervention, 2 weeks post-intervention, and the CFT group again at 3-month follow-up.ResultsAt 2 weeks post-intervention, participants in the CFT group compared to control had significantly increased total moral expansiveness, as well as increases specifically for family and revered sub-groups. At 3-month follow-up, these outcomes improved, with reported moral concern for all sub-groups significantly increasing, including out-groups, stigmatized members of society, animals, plants, and the environment.ConclusionsThe results show promise for how we can expand the boundaries of our moral concern through compassion focused interventions.PreregistrationThe study was preregistered on the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/z3c9f).

Kind minds: using the ‘compassionate kitbag’ in a compassion focused therapy group for adults with intellectual disabilities

PurposeThis paper aims to describe and evaluate the impact of a compassion-focused therapy (CFT) group for adults with intellectual disabilities (ID).Design/methodology/approachPeople with ID are commonly subjected to stigmatising experiences that can contribute to feelings of shame. CFT targets shame and self-criticism by helping people to cultivate self-compassion. There is evidence to suggest that CFT can be meaningfully adapted for people with ID. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected using a mixed-methods design, aiming to gain a rich evaluation of the CFT group. Eight adults with ID were referred by their local community psychology team. An 11-week group protocol was based on materials from previous research. The protocol included the development of a “compassion box”, aiming to make CFT concepts more concrete and tangible. Questionnaires measuring psychological distress, self-compassion and negative social comparisons were completed pre- and post-group. Feedback from participants and carers were collated and facilitators’ observations were recorded.FindingsQuestionnaire findings were mixed, and some participants found the measures difficult to understand. Participants’ qualitative feedback and facilitators’ observations suggested that the group created feelings of safety and connectedness whilst facilitating engagement and action with shame and self-criticism. Several participants highlighted the usefulness of the ‘”compassion box”, although some barriers were noted.Originality/valueThis paper provides a rich description of how group CFT can be adapted to meet the needs of adults with ID and is the first study of its kind, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, to evaluate the incorporation of the “compassion box”.

Compassion-Focused Therapy to Reduce Body Weight Shame for Individuals With Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Adults living in larger bodies (Body Mass Index > 30) often experience body weight shame, are highly self-critical, and are at increased risk for anxiety and depression. To date, there have been no RCTs examining the efficacy of Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) to help those experiencing body weight shame. The aim of the current study was to investigate the efficacy of CFT as a 12-session group intervention to reduce body weight shame for individuals living in larger bodies. The study used an RCT design with participants randomized to the CFT (n = 28) or waitlist control (n = 27) condition. Participants in both groups were assessed at pre- and postintervention, with the CFT group alone assessed at 3- and 6-month follow-up intervention. Both self-report and a physiological measure of parasympathetic nervous system activity were used (i.e., heart rate variability). Results indicated that CFT had a significant positive impact at postintervention compared to the control group for body weight shame (internal and external), increasing self-compassion, reducing fears of compassion (self, other, and receiving), reducing self-criticism, and reducing external shame. Although there were no significant group effects at postintervention on depression and anxiety, 66% of participants had clinical improvement on depression in the CFT group compared to 8% in the control group at postintervention. CFT did not shift baseline heart rate variability at postintervention. The evidence from this RCT supports CFT as an efficacious intervention to reduce body weight shame for individuals with obesity.

How might the evidence from group interventions of compassion focused therapy for shame and self-criticism be applicable to the treatment of self-harm

PurposeTreatment for self-harm remains limited despite research indicating the need to address underlying functions (Slee et al., 2008). Shame and self-criticism are pathogenic processes linked to self-harm (Gilbert & Irons, 2005) therefore CFT (compassion focused therapy) which is designed for shame and self-criticism could be an effective treatment.MethodThis review aimed to synthesise the literature on group based CFT for mental health difficulties with underlying shame and self-criticism and conceptualise how CFT group treatment could be effective for self-harm based on evidence from the papers. A systematic literature search was undertaken and 11 papers were reviewed according to the inclusion criteria which limited references to peer reviewed journal articles in English, from the year 2000 and those pertaining to group based CFT in adult clinical populations. A thematic synthesis was conducted after applying some key questions to the papers.FindingsFour key themes emerged from the thematic synthesis and were discussed with reference to questions around the effectiveness and acceptability of group CFT for addressing shame and self-criticism. The themes were, ‘moving from self-criticism to self-compassion’, ‘aversion to compassion’, ‘group process’ and ‘skills development’.DiscussionEvidence from the papers around CFT group interventions were discussed with reference to their application to the treatment of self-harm in terms of building affiliative connections with others and the development of compassion as an adaptive coping mechanism, decreasing distress and reducing the need to engage in self-harm.

Self-forgiveness, self-compassion and psychological health: A qualitative exploration of change during compassion focused therapy groups.

Little research exists into the relationships between self-forgiveness, self-compassion, affect and psychological health, and are only just beginning to be explored within the self-compassion and the Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) literature. This qualitative study (n= 31) utilised Thematic Analysis (TA) to understand participants' experiences of participating in a 12-week compassion-focused therapy group. Thematic analysis yielded two major themes: 'becoming self-compassionate and self-forgiving', and 'the CFT group was beneficial'. The first major theme reflected participants' growing familiarity, awareness and insight into their inhibitions to and the benefits of self-compassion and self-forgiveness, their capacities for self-condemnation, becoming appropriately responsible for their thoughts and actions, and the links between self-compassion and the process of self-forgiveness. The second major theme reflected participants' impressions that taking part in the CFT group and developing CFT skills had facilitated personal change through taking compassionate ownership for their thoughts and feelings about themselves and their mistakes, rather than condemning themselves and others. Participants reported that these changes helped to regulate their negative affect through the development of more compassionate and balanced thinking about their mistakes, leading to improvements in psychological health. The findings of this study provide explanations of the processes of change in CFT in relation to self-forgiveness, affect and psychological health and contribute to the theory and practice of CFT especially as practiced within a group format.

Benefits of group compassion-focused therapy for treatment-resistant depression: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Major depression is one of the most common mental health problems worldwide. More than one-third of patients suffer from treatment-resistant depression (TRD). In this study, we explored the feasibility of group compassion-focused therapy (CFT) for TRD using a randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups. Eighteen participants were randomly allocated to the intervention group (CFT and usual care) and control group (usual care alone) and a participant in each group withdrew. Participants in the intervention group received a 1.5-h session every week for 12 weeks. The effects of the intervention on the participants’ scores were calculated using a linear mixed model. There was a larger reduction in their depressive symptoms and fears of compassion for self and a greater increase in their compassion for self compared to the control group participants. The reliable clinical indices showed that in the CFT (intervention) group, three of nine participants recovered (33%), two improved (22%), two recovered but non-reliably (22%), and the condition of two remained unchanged (22%). These findings indicate adequate feasibility of group CFT for TRD in Japanese clinical settings.Clinical trial registration[https://clinicaltrials.gov/], identifier [UMIN 000028698].

Group-based compassion-focused therapy for prolonged grief symptoms in adults – Results from a randomized controlled trial

Prolonged grief disorder is a debilitating condition, which affects approximately one out of ten who lose a loved one. While existing meta-analyses have synthesized evidence regarding the overall effect of psychological interventions for pathological grief across different types of psychotherapy, it remains clinically relevant to explore whether specific types of psychological interventions are efficacious in the treatment of grief. The present study investigated the efficacy of group-based Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) for adults who had lost a spouse or a parent, and who reported clinically relevant levels of prolonged grief symptoms (PGS) at 11 months post-loss. A total of 82 participants were randomized to the CFT group (n = 42) or the waitlist control (n = 40). Time × group interactions showed no statistically significant effects of the intervention on the primary outcome PGS at post-intervention or 6-month follow-up. Likewise, no statistically significant effects were found for any of the secondary outcomes or process variables, with the exception of posttraumatic stress symptoms and self-reassurance.Taken together, in the present study group-based CFT did not emerge as an efficacious treatment for PGS. Possible explanations include that CFT may not target core maintaining processes in PGS and that the group-based, 8-week operationalization of CFT may be less than optimal.

Transition Needs Compassion: a Thematic Analysis of an Online Compassion-Focused Therapy Group in a Gender Service

ObjectivesTransgender and gender non-conforming people may face elevated rates of shame and self-criticism in light of minority stress. Compassion-focused therapy has a growing evidence base in addressing trans-diagnostic processes in mental health difficulties, including shame and self-criticism. The objective of the present study was to explore the experience of an initial pilot compassion-focused therapy group delivered online in a Gender Service during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsSix transgender people completed a semi-structured interview after attending an 8-week compassion-focused therapy group in a national Gender Service. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify themes in the data.ResultsFour themes were identified from the data: Transition Needs Compassion; Acceptability of the Compassion-Focused Approach; Being in a group with other transgender people; and Online delivery works despite its challenges. Participants reported that the compassion-focused framework was an appropriate and helpful way of understanding their experiences of stigma and that both the content and process of the group had benefitted them. Being with other transgender people raised some anxieties, such as comparisons or fear of offending, but also enabled seeing the self in more positive and accepting ways. While online delivery had some challenges, participants largely felt it was an effective mode of delivery, aided by the experiential nature of the group.ConclusionsCompassion-focused therapy seems to be a feasible and acceptable approach for transgender and gender non-conforming people. Group processes may be helpful in increasing self-acceptance. Further quantitative exploration of therapy process and outcomes is warranted.

Compassion Focused Group Therapy for Adult Female Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse: a Preliminary Investigation

ObjectivesThe adverse effects of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) are often significant and enduring. It is therefore important to identify therapeutic interventions that can effectively minimize these effects. Compassion focused therapy (CFT) was originally developed for people with high levels of self-criticism and shame. It holds significant promise as an intervention for survivors of CSA, but has not yet been empirically tested. This study explored both the acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a CFT group intervention (CFT-SA) for adult female survivors of CSA.MethodsCFT-SA was developed and tested with adult female survivors of CSA, to determine if there was any change in outcome measure scores after participating in the 12-week intervention (n = 30) and at 3-month post-intervention follow-up (n = 25).ResultsLow attrition and high session attendance, in addition to positive participant feedback, suggested the program had high acceptability. Significant improvement was observed across all outcome variables from pre- to post-intervention (n = 30), which were maintained at follow-up (n = 25). Participants demonstrated increased self-compassion and self-reassurance, and reduced symptoms of post-traumatic stress, shame, and self-criticism, as well as fears of compassion, depression, anxiety, and stress, with medium to large effect sizes (d = .55 to 1.36). Across all measures, between 20 and 57% of participants demonstrated reliable change pre- to post-intervention, and 22 to 57% from pre-intervention to follow-up.ConclusionsThis study provides preliminary support for the acceptability and potential benefits of utilizing CFT-SA as an intervention for adult female survivors of CSA and offers recommendations for future research.Trial Registration.Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12616001041448.

The power of compassion in group psycotherapy.

Research has repeatedly demonstrated that individual and group psychotherapy are equally effective. Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) has been shown to be an effective approach to treating individuals with a wide range of presenting mental health concerns. In this study, we discuss the basic tenets of CFT and introduce a 12-module CFT group psychotherapy approach for college counseling centers. We use a clinical vignette to provide an example of how psychotherapists may implement this approach. We then discuss clinical applications, including strengths and limitations of this approach.

Age Inclusive Compassion-Focused Therapy: a Pilot Group Evaluation

This study aimed to evaluate and provide recommendations to improve the effectiveness of an age inclusive compassion-focused therapy (CFT) group in secondary mental health services for participants experiencing a range of mental health difficulties. Of particular interest was the acceptability and impact of having a wide range of ages in such a group. The study employed a mixed method design. Validated self-report questionnaires were administered before and after the group intervention, and qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with six group participants. There was a significant increase in ratings on the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), a significant decrease in the depression subscale within the Depression and Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) and a significant reduction in the risk subscale of the Clinical Outcome in Routine Evaluation (CORE). No significant differences were found on the overall scores and other subscales of the CORE and the DASS. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data identified four main themes: “Connection with others”, “Experience of a diverse age range”, “Group as a secure space” and “New strategies and tools”. This study provides preliminary evidence that an age inclusive CFT group is well received and has a beneficial impact for participants, with particular positivity gained through compassionately connecting with others. The range of ages was appreciated and appeared to have therapeutic benefits, although awareness of differing age-related needs is important. Limitations, recommendations for improvement and future research are discussed.

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Compassion-focused Therapy and Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction in Reducing Type D Personality Traits in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease

Background and Aim: Coronary patients with type D personality have high stress and inhibit negative emotions. Despite receiving similar medical procedures as other coronary patients they show a slower recovery process and recurrent heart attacks. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of compassion-focused therapy (CFT) and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in reducing type D personality traits in patients with coronary heart disease. Materials and Methods: The present research method was quasi-experimental with a pretest- post-test-follow-up design with a control group. The statistical population of this study was all patients with coronary heart disease in Rajai Alborz Hospital in Karaj City, Iran, in 2019. A total of 45 people were selected by convenience sampling and randomly assigned to three groups under the title of CFT, MBSR, and control group. Subjects responded to the type D personality scale by Denollet (2005) for pre-test, post-test, and follow-up. CFT and MBSR were each held in 8 sessions of 90 minutes. In the present study, the statistical method of repeated measure analysis of variance in SPSS software, version 18, was used to analyze the data with 0.05 and 0.01 significance levels. Results: After the intervention, the average score of type D traits symptoms of the test group (73.26 with a standard deviation of 4.49) was significantly lower than the control group (53.36 with a standard deviation of 27.4). CFT and MBSR had a reducing effect on type D personality traits over time (P<0.001). Also, a significant difference was observed between the effectiveness of CFT and MBSR in reducing type D personality traits (P=0.020). Conclusion: CFT and MBSR are both effective in treating patients with type D personality but CFT is more effective.

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Compassion-focused Therapy and Quality of Life Therapy on Self-Criticism and Psychopathological Symptoms in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

Background: The main feature of Major Depression Disorder (MDD) is mood swings between sadness (from minor disappointment to extreme despair) for several days, weeks, months, or even years. This work tries to compare the effectiveness of compassion-focused therapy and quality of life-therapy on self-criticism and psychopathological symptoms in patients with MDD.Methodology: This work is a quasi-experimental study (pre-test, post-test, and follow-up test with a control group). The subjects include 45 MDD patients admitted in psychological advisory centers in Neyshabur, all of whom are selected by convenience sampling method and randomly divided into three groups: the compassion-focused therapy group, the quality of the life-therapy group, and the control group. The members of the CFT group and quality of life-therapy respectively received 8 and 10 therapy sessions, while the control group members were put on a waiting list. The research tools are as follows Self-Criticism Scale, Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale (DASS-21), and Beck-Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). The participants were tested before therapy intrusions, immediately after the sessions, and two-month after the ending session. Data were analyzed according to the variance analysis test by repetitive measurements and SPSS-24 Software.Results: The results show that both therapies are effective in reducing self-criticism (p < 0.001) and psychopathological symptoms (p < 0.001); however, this effect was significantly higher in the CFT group as compared to the quality of life-therapy group (p < 0.001).Conclusion: Given the biological and psychological infrastructure of MDD, using quality of life-therapy and self-compassion approaches (in addition to medication) can be effective in reducing MDD symptoms.

Effectiveness of compassion-focused therapy in alexithymia, adaptive behavior, treatment adherence, and biological factors in patients with type 2 diabetes

Background and Objective: The diabetic patients experience a plethora of emotional problems besides physiological physical problems, which can affect the course of their disease. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of compassion focused therapy (CFT) on alexithymia, adaptive behavior, treatment adherence, and Blood sugarof patients with type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods: In this research, a quasi-experimental design with pretest-posttest and control group was adopted. The study population includes patients with type 2 diabetes in Ahvaz in 2020 that referred to my center. The sample size (n=30) was selected using availability sampling method, who were randomly and equally assigned to experimental (CFT), and control group. To collect research data, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Psychosocial Adjustment with Illness Scale, the Treatment Adherence Questionnaire, and the Blood sugar test were used. The CFT group received 8 sessions of intervention (each for 2 h). Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to data analysis. Results: The results showed that CFT had a significant effect on alexithymia (F=9/27, p=0/006), adaptive behavior (F=6/75, p=0/016), and treatment adherence (F=15/26, p=0/001) of patients with type 2 diabetes in the post-test. There was no significant difference between the experimental and control groups in Blood sugartest (F=0/08, p=0/786). Conclusion: Based on the findings, it can be concluded that CFT is effective in increasing the level of adaptive behavior and adherence to treatment.

An evaluation of compassion-focused therapy within adult mental health inpatient settings.

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a compassion-focused therapy (CFT) group in improving patient outcomes compared to those receiving treatment as usual (TAU) with a trans-diagnostic population who are inpatients within an acute psychiatric ward. Quantitative data were gathered as part of routine clinical practice within three adult psychiatric wards using the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure (CORE-OM) at admission and discharge and non-standardized Likert scales pre- and post-group sessions. Between April and August 2017, the Acute Psychology Service (APS) gathered CORE-OM admission and discharge data from inpatients across three acute wards (n=32) whilst 249 pre/post-group data sets were gathered from CFT group work undertaken on the inpatient wards. Current inpatients self-allocated to receive either CFT or TAU based on their desire for psychological involvement. Those self-allocating to receive psychological involvement (n=19) were compared to those who did not (n=13) across the four subdomains of the CORE-OM: Wellbeing, Functioning, Problem/Symptoms, and Risk. The Likert scales included subdomains to evaluate changes in self-compassion, compassion to others, and threat. Those receiving CFT group work also received TAU. Significant improvements to all CORE-OM subdomains were observed for those receiving CFT group input, in particular the Wellbeing and Functioning subdomains. Those receiving TAU only noted a significant improvement in the area of Risk whilst levels of Wellbeing were identical at admission and discharge with no improvements noted. Pre/post-group results indicated significant results for areas of self-compassion and compassion to others, whilst results by session for the threat subdomain are mixed dependant on session. Overall, all areas noted significant improvements. Session content was observed to be most effective for breathing and Mindfulness-based sessions and those utilizing imagery techniques. Compassion-Focused Therapy appears to be an effective group intervention for a trans-diagnostic population within adult inpatient settings. Patient outcomes are positively improved across a range of areas whilst undertaking psychological input in the form of CFT group work whilst also receiving TAU during an inpatient admission. The use of the CFT model to address trans-diagnostic difficulties supports targeting underlying psychological constructs in comparison to symptom treatment alone. Compassion-focused therapy is a multi-model approach designed to target high levels of self-criticism. Previous research has demonstrated its effectiveness for a range of specific diagnosis; however, there is a limited research base with open groups and a trans-diagnostic population. Groups can be structured with standalone sessions to accommodate the unpredictable admissions and discharge patterns of acute psychiatric wards. Group sessions focused around Mindfulness and Imagery yielded the greatest significant improvements to pre-sessions scores. The provision of compassion-focused therapy groups within trans-diagnostic inpatient settings is feasible and has shown to significantly improve overall levels of distress and risk compared to those receiving treatment as usual. The lack of standardized Likert group measures limits the power of the study. Whilst a RCT would provide more reliable data, this was not possible as part of routine clinical practice for ethical reasons.

Arts-Based Compassion Skills Training (ABCST): Channelling Compassion Focused Therapy Through Visual Arts for Australia's Indigenous Peoples.

The last 20 years have seen the development of a new form of therapy, compassion focused therapy (CFT). Although CFT has a growing evidence base, there have been few studies of CFT outside of an Anglo-European cultural context. In this paper, we ask: Might a CFT-based approach be of value for Indigenous Australians? If so, what kind of cultural adaptations might be needed? We report the findings from a pilot study of an arts-based compassion skills training (ABCST) group, in which usual CFT group processes were significantly adapted to meet the needs of Indigenous Australians. At face value, CFT appeared to be a promising approach to enhancing the social and emotional wellbeing of Australia’s Indigenous peoples. However, despite initial consultations with Indigenous health professionals, the first attempts to offer a more conventional group-based CFT to Indigenous clients were largely unsuccessful. Following a review and advice from two Indigenous clients, we combined elements of CFT with visual arts to develop a new approach, “arts-based compassion skills training” (ABCST). This paper reports an evaluation of this pilot ABCST group. The group had 6 × 4 h sessions of ABCST, facilitated by two psychologists (1 Indigenous, 1 non-Indigenous) and two artists (1 Indigenous, 1 non-Indigenous). There were 10 participants, who attended between 2 and 6 sessions: five were clients, five were health professionals. Between 1 and 3 months later, six of the participants (2 clients, 4 health professionals) were interviewed. Qualitative analysis of interview data identified that two key processes—creating a positive group atmosphere and channeling compassion skills training through the medium of visual arts—led to four positive outcomes for participants: planting the seeds of new understandings, embodying the skills of compassion, strengthening relationships with others, and evolving a more self-compassionate relationship. We suggest that the preliminary results are sufficiently encouraging to warrant further development of ABCST in Indigenous communities.

Effects of Compassion-focused Therapy on Psychological Wellbeing, Life Expectancy, and Psychological Flexibility in Individuals With Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Objective: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) causes a debilitating disease that affects the involved patient’s life. Therefore, investigating and introducing effective interventions to improve the status of these patients are among the necessities of modern research. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Compassion-focused Therapy (CFT) on enhancing psychological wellbeing, life expectancy, and psychological flexibility in HIV-infected patients. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test-follow-up and a control group design. The statistical population included all patients with an active file in the Tehran Blood Transfusion Organization who were eligible to participate in the study according to inclusion criteria. Thirty-four cases were selected by purposive sampling method and randomly assigned into two groups of CFT and control (n=17/group). During the research process, 2 subjects from the experimental group and 2 subjects from the control group were removed. The study participants were assessed before, after, and three months after the intervention using the Ryff Psychological Well-being Questionnaire, Schneider’s Hope Scale, and Bond’s Psychological Flexibility Questionnaire. The obtained data were analyzed using repeated-measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) in SPSS. Results: The present research findings suggested that psychological wellbeing (F=112.83, P=0.001) life expectancy (F=117.02, P=0.001), and psychological flexibility (F=65.61, P=0.001) significantly increased in the CFT group, compared to the controls (P&gt;0.001). Conclusion: The obtained data revealed that CFT was effective in increasing psychological wellbeing, life expectancy, and psychological flexibility in HIV-infected patients.

Compassion focused therapy in a university counseling and psychological services center: A feasibility trial of a new standardized group manual

ABSTRACT Objectives: The feasibility and acceptability of a new Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) group protocol were assessed in a university counseling and psychological services (CAPS) center. Outcome measures included mechanisms of change, compassion, and general psychiatric distress. Method: Eight transdiagnostic CFT groups composed of 75 clients met for 12 weekly sessions. Clients completed measures of fears of compassion, flows of compassion, self-reassurance, self-criticism, shame, and psychiatric distress at pre, mid, and post time points. Self-report feasibility and acceptability data were collected from therapists and clients, respectively. Significant and reliable change was assessed along with exploratory analysis of CFT mechanisms of change using correlational analysis. Results: Significant and reliable change was found for fears of self-compassion, fears of compassion from others, fears of compassion to others, self-compassion, compassion from others, self-reassurance, self-criticism, shame, and psychological distress. Improvements in fears and flows of compassion predicted improvements in self-reassurance, self-criticism, shame, and psychiatric distress. Conclusion: The new CFT group protocol appears to be feasible, acceptable, and effective in a transdiagnostic CAPS population. The identified mechanisms of change support the theory of CFT that transdiagnostic pathological constructs of self-criticism and shame can improve by decreasing fears and increasing flows of compassion.

Subjective changes in mind-body attunement associated with transdiagnostic group–based compassion-focused therapy

A key focus of compassion-focused therapy (CFT) is the facilitation of “felt” change on a bodily level for individuals with high levels of shame and self-criticism. However, while evidence suggests that CFT is effective in reducing psychological distress, research has yet to examine the extent to which CFT facilitates bodily change. The aim of this study was to investigate subjective bodily changes associated with attending a trans-diagnostic CFT group within a mental health service. A qualitatively weighted mixed-method design was employed, combining phenomenological and observational elements. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with eleven participants following the group and analyzed thematically. Pre-post self-report data was gathered (N = 23) using the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) to further examine subjective body-related change. Results were integrated using the concept of mind-body attunement. Participants’ reported experiences of distress prior to CFT were seen to reflect difficulties with attunement between mind and body. Following CFT, participants’ sense of being attuned to their bodies appeared to increase. This change appeared to be associated with the cultivation of a more self-compassionate mindset; engaging in a regular, compassion-focused meditative or reflective practice, and experiencing shared compassion. Results suggest that CFT may be helpful for individuals whose psychological distress is at least partly associated with disruption in mind-body attunement. A model outlining the relationship between compassion, mind-body attunement, and positive life outcomes is proposed.