Compassionate Mind Research Articles

The Effectiveness of Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) for Undergraduate Students

The study aimed to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of face-toface, group-based Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) for undergraduate students. Following a 12-week CMT intervention, a cohort of undergraduate students in the CMT group (n = 45) and their counterparts in the passive control group (n = 21) were asked to fill out assessments before, during, immediately after, and three months following the completion of the intervention. These measures encompassed a range of factors, including self-compassion, negative affect, various forms of positive affect, depression, anxiety, stress, life satisfaction, and dysfunctional attitudes. Compared with the control group, participants belonging to the CMT group showed significant increases in self-compassion and self-warmth, along with decreases in negative affect, self-coldness, dysfunctional attitudes, depression, and stress. However, mediation analyses, when applied within longitudinal models, did not establish the significance of self-compassion, self-coldness, or self-warmth as mediators in the context of the CMT's impact on negative affect and soothing positive affect. The results support the effectiveness of a 12-week, group-based, face-to-face CMT for undergraduate students. Yet, they also cast doubt on selfcompassion as the primary mechanism driving these changes, given the absence of supporting longitudinal evidence.

Promoting Teachers’ Wellbeing Using a Compassionate Mind Training Intervention: Exploring Mechanisms of Change

ObjectivesThe current study aimed to examine the mechanisms of change of a compassionate mind training intervention for teachers (CMT-T). In particular, we examined whether changes in the three flows of compassion, fears of compassion, and emotions at work (safe, drive, and threat) mediated the effects of the CMT-T in burnout, depression, anxiety, and stress, and in overall positive affect.MethodsAs part of a two-arm randomized controlled trial and a stepped-wedge design, the study included all participants who completed the 8-week CMT-T intervention either at Time 1 or at Time 2 (n = 103). At pre- and post-intervention, participants completed measures of compassion, fears of compassion, emotional climate in the workplace, burnout, psychopathological symptoms, and positive affect.ResultsMediation analyses revealed that increases in the flows of compassion and reductions in fears of compassion from others mediated the effects of CMT-T on teachers' depression, anxiety, stress, and burnout levels. In the case of the reduction in stress symptoms from pre- to post-intervention, compassion for self, fears of self-compassion, and fears of receiving compassion from others emerged as significant mediators of this change. The three flows of compassion and fears of compassion (for self and from others) were significant mediators of the impact of CMT-T on changes in teachers’ anxiety levels from baseline to post-intervention. A decrease in fears of compassion from others and an increase in drive emotions mediated changes in depressive symptoms following CMT-T. Concerning burnout, all flows of compassion and fear of compassion from others mediated the changes from baseline to post-intervention. Changes in positive affect following CMT-T were mediated by increases in the flows of compassion, and emotions related to soothing-safeness and drive systems in the workplace. Serial mediational models showed that the effect of CMT-T on teachers’ burnout was partially mediated by reductions in fears of compassion (for self and from others) and stress.ConclusionsCMT-T effectively improves teachers’ wellbeing and reduces burnout and psychological distress through the cultivation of their ability to experience, direct, and be open to compassion, and the strengthening of the soothing-safeness and the drive systems in the school context.PreregistrationThe study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: identifier, NCT05107323; Compassionate Schools: Feasibility and Effectiveness Study of a Compassionate Mind Training Program to Promote Teachers Wellbeing.

The Efficacy of a Group Program Integrating Compassionate Mind Training with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for College Students With Test Anxiety in Mainland China

The Efficacy of a Group Program Integrating Compassionate Mind Training with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for College Students With Test Anxiety in Mainland China

Can compassion impact us on a cellular level? Preliminary findings on the effects of a compassion focused intervention on immunological markers and CTRA gene expression

IntroductionAddressing mental and physical health problems and promoting wellbeing in educational settings is a global priority. Teachers present a high risk of stress and burnout, which negatively impacts their professional performance as well as their mental and physical health. Compassion-based interventions have been found effective in promoting psychosocial and physiological wellbeing.ObjectivesThe current paper presents preliminary findings of the impact of a 6-module Compassionate Mind Training intervention for Teachers (CMT-T) on immunological markers and the Conserved Transcriptional Response to Adversity (CTRA; a gene expression signature that involves a group of 53 genes: pro-inflammatory genes, type I interferon response and genes related to antibody synthesis).MethodsA pilot non-controlled study was conducted in a sample of public-school teachers in Portugal (n=36). Participants were assessed at 4 time-points: 1) Extended Baseline Control_M0, in order to establish a within-subjects psychological and biophysiological baseline (8 weeks before the start of the CMT-T); 2) Pre-intervention_M1 (8-weeks after M0); 3) Post-intervention_M2 (8-weeks after M1); and 4) Follow-up_M3 (3 months after the CMT-T end). In all assessment moments, participants completed a set of psychological self-report measures and were assessed in immunological and epigenetic biological markers through the collection of blood. After M1, teachers completed the 8-week group CMT-T intervention and given access to its resources and materials. They were instructed to practice daily and incorporate the teachings in their personal and professional lives. All assessments and the CMT-T intervention took place at the schools.ResultsPreliminary data on the impact of CMT-T on Immune Response Profiling revealed that teachers’ Natural Killer (i.e., NK) cells were decreased after the CMT-T intervention. In regard to the CTRA gene expression, results showed that type one interferon response genes (e.g., IFI16, IFI27L2, IFITM2, IFITM3, IFITM4P) were decreased after the intervention. In addition, we observed that the gene c-Jun, a pro-inflammatory gene, had a decreased expression after the CMT-T intervention.ConclusionsThese preliminary findings seem to corroborate previous studies involving the type one interferon response, the pro-inflammatory genes and antibody synthesis genes in a signature involving 53 genes previously described as the CTRA gene signature. Furthermore, our results suggest that cultivating compassion using a compassion focused intervention may have a positive impact on markers of the immune system response, associated with how our bodies respond to stress, infection and cancer, as well as, on reducing the expression of genes related to our bodies’ response to stress and inflammation.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Compassionate mind training for people with Parkinson's disease: A pilot study and predictors of response.

People with Parkinson's disease (PD) often present with disabling neuropsychiatric symptoms. Compassionate mind training (CMT) is a psychological approach effective in reducing stress and promoting psychological well-being. Heart rate variability (HRV), a measure reflecting sympathovagal balance, has been associated with psychological well-being and a compassionate attitude. To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of CMT in enhancing the quality of life and psychological well-being in PD patients. Additionally, we evaluated HRV as a physiomarker for assessing the CMT outcomes. Twenty-four PD patients participated in the study. A 6-week online CMT intervention was delivered on a weekly basis. At baseline and post-intervention patients completed questionnaires assessing depression, anxiety and quality of life. In a subsample of 11 patients, HRV was measured at baseline and post-intervention in three conditions: at rest, during stress and after 3 min of deep breathing. The attendance rate was 94.3%. Quality of life and perceived stigma improved post-intervention as compared with baseline (p = 0.02 and p = 0.03 for PD Questionnaire-39 total score and Stigma subscore, respectively). After CMT, patients presented better physiological regulation to stress, as measured by higher HRV as compared with baseline (p = 0.005). Notably, patients who were more resilient to stress at baseline (less decrease in HRV during stress) experienced a more substantial reduction in anxiety and depression following CMT. CMT is feasible and can improve quality of life and stigma in PD patients. HRV emerges as a promising physiomarker for predicting and measuring the outcomes of psychological interventions in PD.

Model of Buddhism-Based Learning to Enhance the Ompassionate Mind of Higher Education Students

The purposes of this research were: to synthesize elements and indicators of the compassionate mind of higher education students, to develop a model of Buddhism-based learning to enhance the compassionate mind of higher education students; and to study the implementation results of a model of Buddhism-based learning to enhance the compassionate mind of higher education students. Key informants were selected by purposive sampling. The instruments used were: a semi-structured interview form which data were analyzed through content analysis and summarized into issues, a model verifying form which the data were analyzed using frequency and percentage; and a satisfaction form and model evaluation form which the data were analyzed by mean and standard deviation. The research results showed that the results of synthesizing elements and indicators of the compassionate mind of higher education students consisted of five preliminary elements and twenty-one indicators, a complete model of Buddhism-based learning to enhance the compassionate mind of higher education students was POO(LLOTUSS)D, the accuracy and suitability of this model were at the highest level; and results of studying the implementation results of a model of Buddhism-based learning to enhance the compassionate mind of higher education students were overall at the highest level.

Compassion Focused Group Psychotherapy for attachment and relational trauma: Engaging people with a diagnosis of personality disorder.

The research aimed to evaluate an exploratory Compassion Focused Group Psychotherapy Programme and the impact on participants' experiences of self-criticism, usage of services and general wellbeing. Participants included patients with a history of complex attachment and relational trauma (A&RT), who might attract a diagnosis of personality disorder. This study utilised a quasi-experimental non-randomised within subject controlled design for the evaluation of the efficacy of the programme. Participants were recruited from tertiary care services. The programme consisted of a 12-week Preparation and Engagement intervention (PEG) which was Compassionate Mind Training and Psychoeducation, followed by a 40-week Compassion Focused Trauma Group intervention. The cohort was then followed up after 12 months during which period they received treatment as usual. A comprehensive selection of self-report measures was administered at various points during the therapeutic process and following completion of the group interventions. The results of the research showed that the provision of a long-term, slow-paced, Compassion Focused Group Psychotherapy intervention, resulted in significant changes across all measures which were maintained at 12-month follow-up. These significant results were maintained following intention to treat and reliable change analyses. These data were supported by a significant reduction in service usage and a significant increase in engagement in employment and education. This study has identified that within Compassion Focused Group Psychotherapy, there is a therapeutic process of establishing group-based safeness as a necessary precursor to cultivating compassion and reworking early shame-based trauma memories.

A Mixed-Methods Study of Compassionate Mind Training for Pupils (CMT-Pupils) as a School-Based Wellbeing Intervention

ObjectivesMental health difficulties in children are increasing, especially following transition from elementary to high-school education. In attempts to mitigate risk of these difficulties, proactive wellbeing interventions are becoming increasingly explored in school settings. Recently, Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) has been shown to be well-accepted and efficacious in promoting school staff wellbeing and prosocial behaviours. This paper outlines the impact of CMT as a pupil wellbeing intervention.MethodSixty-seven pupils aged 11–12 took part in either Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) lessons as usual (n=30), or CMT-Pupils (n=37) as their PSHE lessons, over a 5-week period. A mixed-methods quantitative and qualitative design was utilised to explore implementation and curricula effectiveness across several wellbeing parameters (e.g., anxiety, self-compassion, perfectionism, moods and feelings, self-esteem).ResultsPupils reported positively on their experiences of the CMT-Pupils lessons, content and practices. Quantitative analyses revealed a significant time-by-group interaction effect for anxiety, reflecting differences in anxiety post CMT-Pupils vs. PSHE as usual. No further interactions reached significance. Qualitative analyses revealed benefits of CMT-Pupils for pupil and classroom behaviour, including emotion regulation, kindness to others and feelings of inclusion. Benefits were also found to extend to the class teachers.ConclusionsCMT-pupils could be a promising school-based wellbeing intervention for improving prosocial behaviours, the classroom environment and protecting against deteriorations in child mental health. Larger scale explorations of CMT-Pupils across wider demographics, including investigation of who can deliver the curriculum efficaciously (e.g., teachers vs. external facilitators), are suggested as next steps for investigation.PreregistrationThis study was not preregistered.

Cat’s Cradle and the Threads of Maslow’s Humanistic Meditation

Abraham Maslow used “Toward a Humanistic Biology,” published in 1969, to present his future vision of the challenges humankind would face in the growing isolation of persons from each other and themselves. Depersonalization, polarization, and loneliness amid the state of post-pandemic, mid-culture war, warring nations, plagues of economic hardship, racism, nationalism, immigration rejection, and wading deep into a climate cataclysm may cast people out of their societies, or, alternately, huddled alone within them. Ultimately, political power dictates outcomes, as Maslow points out, along with the fate of the world. Mindfulness and its capacity to create more serene and compassionate mind states may hold a model for a new humanistic revolution.

Compassionate Mind Training for Caregivers in Residential Youth Care: Investigating their Experiences Through a Thematic Analysis

ObjectivesCompassion can be valuable in demanding help settings, both to professionals and clients. Nevertheless, compassion-based interventions have not yet been investigated in residential youth care. This qualitative study aimed to examine the caregivers’ experiences with the Compassionate Mind Training program for Caregivers (CMT-Care Homes), as well as their perceptions regarding the barriers/enablers, transfer of learnings, and impact at individual, group, and organizational levels.MethodThree focus groups were conducted, enrolling 19 caregivers after their participation in the CMT-Care Homes. Data were examined using thematic analysis.ResultsFour overarching themes, 10 themes, and 14 subthemes were identified. The CMT-Care Homes seemed to enable the development of the three flows of compassion (i.e., compassion towards others, receive compassion from others, and self-compassion). While the program’s acceptability, practice, and transfer of learnings seem to facilitate compassion, reported difficulties with some formal practices and fears, blocks, and resistances to compassion might be barriers to its development. Knowledge and practices were transferred to work, both at individual and collective levels, increasing caregivers’ emotional health and strengthening team functioning. The program also contributed to improve care practices and to promote an affiliative organizational climate. Indirect impact on youth was also reported, regarding their reactions to the caregivers’ compassionate attitudes.ConclusionsFindings demonstrated promising benefits of the CMT-Care Homes in residential youth care settings, at personal, team, and organization levels. Compassion was helpful in working with youth, and in regulating caregivers’ own emotions at work. Limitations regarding method and data analysis should be considered.

Energizing compassion: using music and community focus to stimulate compassion drive and sense of connectedness.

The last 20 years have seen considerable research on the nature and biopsychosocial impacts of compassion training on self and others. This training is usually focused on calming and slowing the mind and body and on individual imagery practices and mantras. This study explored the effects of three variations: 1. The impact of using energizing music to generate activation and "drive" for compassion; 2. To focus on imagining "breathing in and breathing out a white light or mist of compassion" to bring compassion to the world; and 3. While listening to energizing music, participants were guided to imagining connecting to the compassion (Sangha) community, imagining oneself as linking with others as part of communities seeking to help the world. From approximately 1,600 members of the Compassionate Mind discussion list, participants were invited to take part in a new energizing focused self-practice study. The study involved listening to recorded guidance on the evolutionary model of compassion and the need to address the potentially harmful side of our nature. This was followed by a 4 1/2-min tonglen-informed guided practice of breathing in and breathing out compassion accompanied by energizing music. Forty-three participants completed several self-report scales measuring compassion orientation, wellbeing, social safeness, and positive affect before and following 2 weeks of practice. Participant experiences were recorded from 6 open explorative questions. Self-report measures taken before and following 2 weeks of practice revealed significant increases in self-compassion, compassion to others, openness to compassion from others, activated positive affect, safe positive affect, social safeness, and wellbeing, with the largest effect size relating to compassion for the self (d = -0.76). In addition, qualitative data revealed that the participants had experienced the practice as energizing, inspiring, and felt socially connected and that it had significant impacts on other aspects of their lives. Some participants noted that engaging with suffering also stimulated sadness. This study found that pairing energizing music with breathing practices and specific compassion visualizations, focusing on the desire to bring compassion to the world and be part of a compassionate community, was well-accepted and had a range of significant positive impacts. This study indicates the potential value of exploring energizing in comparison to the more standard soothing and settling practices as ways of stimulating the biopsychosocial processes of compassion.

Choose Compassion: Why It Matters and How It Works (2022) by James Kirby. University of Queensland Press. ISBN: 9780702265648

One of Australia’s leading compassion researchers, Dr. James Kirby employs science and real-world cases to argue that compassion is the most important human motivation to harness in today’s world. Citing the benefits of compassion training exercises for life struggles including self-criticism, shame, grief, parenting, depression, and anxiety, Kirby draws on findings from the University of Queensland’s Compassionate Mind Research Group, of which he is co-director. Debunking the myth that compassion is a soft or weak emotion, he examines fears, blocks, and resistances we and our clients may have to compassion, which he defines as the courageous and wise motivation to turn towards suffering and try to alleviate it. Reviewer Prof. Paul Gilbert, who developed compassion focused therapy, applauds how Choose Compassion: Why it matters and how it works (Kirby, 2022) takes on big themes, such as the inevitability of suffering and loss, and makes them understandable and accessible to readers. Despite climate change, mass extinctions, genocide, wars, and the capacity of humans to be callous and contradictory, Kirby’s message is ultimately one of hope.

The Effects of the Compassionate Mind Training for Caregivers on Professional Quality of Life and Mental Health: Outcomes from a Cluster Randomized Trial in Residential Youth Care Settings

BackgroundPsychological distress is highly noticeable among caregivers working in residential youth care (RYC). Maintaining and enhancing caregivers’ professional mental health and quality of life is crucial to achieve effective outcomes in RYC. Nevertheless, trainings to protect caregivers’ mental health are scarce. Considering the buffering effect over negative psychological outcomes, compassion training could be beneficial in RYC.ObjectiveThis study is part of a Cluster Randomized Trial examining the effects of the Compassionate Mind Training for Caregivers (CMT-Care Homes), looking at professional quality of life and mental health of caregivers working in RYC.MethodThe sample was composed of 127 professional caregivers from 12 Portuguese residential care homes (RCH). RCHs were randomly allocated at experimental (N = 6) and control group (N = 6). Participants were assessed at baseline, post-treatment, and 3 and 6-month follow-ups, answering to the Professional Quality of Life Scale and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale. Program effects were tested using a two-factor mixed MANCOVA, with self-critical attitude and education degree as covariates.ResultsMANCOVA showed a significant Time × Group interaction effects (F = 1.890, p = .014; ηp2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\eta }_{p}^{2}$$\\end{document} = .050), with CMT-Care Homes participants presenting lower scores on burnout, anxiety, and depression at 3 and 6-months follow-ups, when compared with controls. Participants that received CMT-Care Homes considered the program useful to deal with pandemic threats and with youth during lockdowns.ConclusionThis study shows the benefits of the CMT-Care Homes in helping professional caregivers reducing burnout, anxiety and depression, and dealing with pandemic challenges in RYC.Trial registration: This cluster randomized trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (TRN: NCT04512092) on 6th August 2020.

The effect of compassionate mind group training in improvement of quality of life in patients with Ulcerative Colitis (one year follow-up)

The effect of compassionate mind group training in improvement of quality of life in patients with Ulcerative Colitis (one year follow-up)

The Effectiveness of Self-Compassion-Focused Therapy on Cognitive Vulnerability to Depression.

Objective: The objective of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of self-compassion-focused therapy on cognitive vulnerability to depression as one of the causes of the onset or recurrence of depressive episodes in people who were not depressed at the time of the research but were cognitively susceptible to depression. Method : The statistical population included all students of Bu-Ali Sina University in 2020. The sample was selected through the available sampling method. First, 52 people were screened, and finally, by random assignment, 20 people were placed in the experimental group and 20 people in the control group. The experimental group underwent compassion-focused therapy for eight 90-minutes-long sessions. The instruments included the Attributional Style Questionnaire, the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale, the Cognitive Triad Inventory, the Self-Esteem Scale, and the 2ⁿᵈ edition Beck Depression Inventory. Results: The results of multivariate analysis of covariance showed that self-compassion-focused therapy was effective in terms of cognitive vulnerability to depression (P < 0.01, F = 22.78), dysfunctional attitudes (P < 0.01, F = 15.53), self-esteem (P < 0.01, F = 30.07), general attribution style for negative events (P < 0.01, F = 11.41), stable attribution style for negative events (P < 0.01, F = 14.48) and internal attribution style for negative events (P < 0.01, F = 12.45). Conclusion: Therefore, it can be concluded that self-compassion-focused therapy can reduce cognitive vulnerability to depression. It seems that this has been achieved through the regulation of emotional systems and the increase of mindfulness, which leads to the reduction of safety-seeking behaviors and the modification of cognitive patterns that take place around the axis of the compassionate mind.

Fostering an affiliative environment in residential youth care: A cluster randomized trial of a compassionate mind training program for caregivers enrolling youth and their caregivers

BackgroundAffiliation has a positive role on well-being and human development. Most children and youth living in residential youth care (RYC) experienced maltreatment from significant others, becoming a particularly vulnerable group. Their complex needs require well trained caregivers who help them to heal and thrive. ObjectiveThis cluster randomized trial sought to test the Compassionate Mind Training program for Caregivers (CMT- Care Homes) effectiveness on affiliative outcomes across time. Participants and settingA sample of 127 professional caregivers and 154 youth from 12 Portuguese residential care homes (RCH) participated on this study. MethodsRCHs were randomized to treatment (n = 6) and control (n = 6) groups. Caregivers and youth completed self-report measures at baseline, post-intervention, and 6-month follow-up on social safeness and emotional climate. Caregivers were also evaluated on compassion outcomes. ResultsMANCOVA indicated large multivariate time X group effects. Univariate results suggested that caregivers from the treatment group showed improvements in compassion towards others and in self-compassion across time, while the control group gradually deteriorated in both variables. Youth and caregivers from the treatment group noticed a more soothing and safer RCH emotional climate, as well as feeling safer within relationships. At 6-month follow-up, improvements were retained by caregivers, but not by youth. ConclusionsThe CMT- Care Homes brings a new model to RYC, that represents a promising approach in promoting safe relationships and affiliative environments in RCHs. Supervision should be provided to monitor care practices and sustain change across time.

자비중심치료 개관연구

The purpose of this study is to overview of Compassion Focused Therapy and the characteristics of the program, to suggest the application plan and research direction of domestic cognitive behavioral therapy, and to provide a theoretical basis that can be applied to clients with various psychological problems. and to provide practical assistance in counseling. To this end, this study reviewed previous studies based on the theory of compassion-centered therapy, and reviewed the core concepts of the theory and the characteristics of the program. The conclusion is as follows. First, Compassion Focused Therapy can be applied to people who have high levels of shame and self-blame, who tend to have chronic psychological problems, and who have difficulty or fear of self-gentleness and self-acceptance. Second, Compassion Focused Therapy targets self-criticism and shame, and seeks to enhance a sense of belonging, especially the ability to experience self-generating and self-centered belonging. Third, the Compassion-centered treatment program utilizes the emotional control system to expand and maintain the compassionate mind within oneself. Fourth, compassion-centered therapy can help to increase personal psychological well-being by extending self-compassion and meaning of life to clients with self-criticism in the field of cognitive behavioral therapy and reducing negative emotions. This study is significant in that it contributed to the development of clinical application and counseling research in domestic cognitive behavioral therapy by reviewing compassion-centered therapy and identifying research trends.

Employee Support During COVID-19 Using Compassionate Mind Training

An individual’s wellbeing at work is now recognised as key, particularly for those in challenging environment’s such as health and social care. Focusing on the cultivation of (mindful) compassion has been shown to be an effective way of improving mental health. This service evaluation focused on a pilot drop-in group for council and NHS staff, informed by Compassionate Mind Training. It was facilitated during the COVID-19 pandemic, between April – August 2020. The group was evaluated by recording the number and characteristics of attendees and using a feedback survey focused on the acceptability of the group structure and content. Workload was a barrier to attendance. There were differences noted in terms of gender and area of employment of the attendees. The offer of a regular, short (30 minute) and virtual group during the working day seemed to facilitate participation. The group appeared acceptable as attendees indicated they improved their knowledge and understanding about group concepts and reported they had become more mindful and compassionate in everyday life. Participants appeared to value the range of meditations offered and group resources. The facilitators were struck by the sense of community that emerged. The group could be used in future research as a stand-alone programme to support staff wellbeing or perhaps as one part of a wider approach to support the development compassionate organisations.

Compassionate mind training for ex-service personnel with PTSD and their partners.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a significant issue for a substantial proportion of Australian ex-service personnel. In addition to the functional impact on individuals, PTSD can have a significant impact on intimate partner relationships. Research has demonstrated that practicing compassion and self-compassion may be an important component of psychological therapy for survivors of trauma, while also demonstrating benefits to intimate relationships. This pilot study aimed to investigate the utility of a Compassionate Mind Training intervention for ex-service personnel with PTSD and their partners. An uncontrolled, within-subjects, longitudinal design was utilized with assessment at pre-intervention, post-intervention and 3-month follow-up. Twenty-four participants attended 12 biweekly group sessions. Self-report measures of compassion, quality of life and psychological symptoms were administered at each time point. Findings demonstrated a significant reduction in fears of compassion and PTSD symptoms for ex-service personnel at 3-month follow-up and a reduction in depressive symptoms and increase in quality-of-life and social safeness at post-intervention. Additionally, significant reductions in anxiety, stress, external shame and self-criticism at 3-month follow-up were found, and couples reported significant increases in relationship satisfaction. Findings from this pilot study demonstrate promising outcomes, warranting further investigation in a larger randomized controlled trial of Compassionate Mind Training for ex-service personnel and their partners.

Compassionate Mind Training Group Programme: Implementation and Evaluation within an NHS Physical Health &amp; Rehabilitation Psychology Service

There is increasing evidence for the effectiveness of brief, group-based compassionate mind training (CMT) in reducing shame and self-criticism, and increasing self-compassion. The current evaluation of an 8-week CMT group programme in an NHS Physical Health Psychology Service supports these findings. Based on a cross-diagnostic sample of 25-39 participants with physical health difficulties, results demonstrate significant reduction in depression and anxiety, significant increase in perceived wellbeing and acceptance, and a significant increase in self compassion following attendance at the group. These findings indicate a potential benefit of compassionate mind training for individuals accessing NHS services due to physical health difficulties including chronic pain, cancer, and long-term conditions such as diabetes.