Compassion focused therapy: Exploring the effectiveness with a transdiagnostic group and potential processes of change. (17th October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cuppage, Jennifer; Baird, Katie; Gibson, Jennifer; Booth, Richard; Hevey, David
• Is Part Of: British journal of clinical psychology. Volume 57:Number 2(2018)
• Page Start: 240
• Page End: 254
• Publication Date: 2017-10-17
• Subjects: compassion -- compassion focused therapy -- group intervention -- processes of change -- self‐criticism -- shame -- transdiagnostic groups; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1111/bjc.12162
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-6657

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a compassion focused therapy (CFT) group with a transdiagnostic population, as compared to treatment as usual (TAU). A secondary aim was to explore the potential processes of change within the treatment. Design: A non‐randomized control trial was used. Method: Fifty‐eight participants who engaged in group CFT were compared to 29 participants receiving TAU. Group CFT consisted of 14 sessions twice weekly for 5 weeks and once weekly for 4 weeks. Participants completed measures of psychopathology, shame, self‐criticism, fears of self‐compassion, and social safeness, at pre‐treatment, post‐treatment, and 2‐month follow‐up. Potential processes of change were examined using correlations and regression analysis. Results: Significantly greater improvements were found for levels of psychopathology, fears of self‐compassion and social safeness for CFT, compared to TAU. Additionally, analyses showed improvements in shame and self‐criticism within the CFT group but not the TAU group. All improvements were maintained at 2‐month follow‐up. Improvements in psychopathology were predicted by changes in self‐criticism and fears of self‐compassion. Conclusion: Compassion focused therapy appears to be an effective group intervention for a range of mental health difficulties. The positive impact of the CFT model with a transdiagnostic group emphasizes the value of addressing underlying psychological process, rather than symptoms alone. Practitioner points: Compassion focused therapy is a multimodal therapy designed to target high levels of shame and self‐criticism. Compassion focused therapy has been shown previously to have positive results within a range of diagnostic‐specific populations. While there is an emerging research base, limited studies assessing effectiveness with transdiagnostic populations have been published. CFT was shown to have a significant effect in reducing levels of psychopathology, compared to TAU. A number of potential processes of change were identified: Changes in psychopathology were significantly correlated with changes in self‐criticism and fears of self‐compassion.