Abstract
Objectives
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.
Methods
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.
Results
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).
Conclusions
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.
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Acknowledgments
The authors are sincerely grateful to all study participants. They also extend their gratitude to Dr. Mosaieb Yarmohammadi Vasel for his help with the data collection and implementation of the study, to Dr. Mehrnoush Esbati for her assistance with providing the questionnaires used in this study.
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by YS. . HM contributed with design and supervision of the study, as well as writing part of the paper. NP analyzed the data, wrote part of the the paper and edited of the final manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Savari, Y., Mohagheghi, H. & Petrocchi, N. A Preliminary Investigation on the Effectiveness of Compassionate Mind Training for Students with Major Depressive Disorder: a Randomized Controlled Trial. Mindfulness 12, 1159–1172 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-020-01584-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-020-01584-3