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Objectives: 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. Methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusion: 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.
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OBJECTIVES: The SafeSpace study codesigned and tested a virtual reality (VR) intervention, incorporating relaxation and compassionate mind training to determine acceptability/feasibility in an oncology setting and evaluate impact on physical/psychological well-being and quality of life. DESIGN: A two-phase study. Phase I determined key characteristics using an experienced-based codesign approach. Phase II evaluated the intervention using various measures and qualitative interviews in a mixed methods approach. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse measures data and framework analysis to analyse interviews. SETTING: A specialist cancer centre, UK. PARTICIPANTS: 11 in phase I and 21 in phase II. Participants were in cancer treatment, recovery or palliative care. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME: Primary outcome: acceptability of the intervention, assessed by >60% uptake of three sessions. SECONDARY OUTCOMES: impact on psychological well-being using EQ-5D/QLQ-C30, Profile of Mood Scale, Warwick and Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, Depression and Anxiety Severity Scale 21, Self-Compassion Scale, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire and a locally developed questionnaire to capture self-compassion post use. Physiological impact was assessed by change in heart rate (HR)/HR variability and electrodermal activity (EDA). RESULTS: Twenty participants (mean age=48.7 years; SD=16.87); 65% (n=13) completed three sessions. Mental well-being improved following each use and from baseline to after session 3 (VR 1-z=2.846, p≤0.01; VR 2-z=2.501, p≤0.01; VR 3-z=2.492, p≤0.01). There was statistically significant difference in mean scores for EDA at mid-session and post session compared with pre session (F (1.658, 4.973)=13.364, p<0.05). There was statistically significant reduction in stress levels from baseline to post session 3. Participants found the intervention acceptable and highlighted areas for development. CONCLUSION: The intervention is acceptable and feasible and has shown positive effects on mental well-being/stress in the oncology setting. Larger studies are needed to confirm findings.
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Neoplasias , Terapia de Exposición Mediante Realidad Virtual , Realidad Virtual , Estudios de Factibilidad , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Neoplasias/terapia , Calidad de Vida , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: People with psoriasis can experience psychological distress that might be amenable to psychosocial self-help. OBJECTIVES: This study tested the feasibility and acceptability of two theoretically developed self-help interventions designed to reduce feelings of shame and improve quality of life. METHODS: A randomized controlled feasibility trial was conducted comprising 130 participants with psoriasis who were randomly allocated to receive either compassion-based self-help (n = 65) or mindfulness-based self-help (n = 65), over a 4-week period. Both interventions were provided online. RESULTS: The interventions were found to be acceptable, with over 70% of study completers reporting that they found the materials helpful. Of the 130 participants, 92 completed the study, with attrition at 29%. Both interventions showed modest yet statistically significant reductions in shame (Cohen's d = 0.20) and improvements in quality of life (Cohen's d = 0.40). CONCLUSIONS: Self-help based on compassion and mindfulness is acceptable to users, and can reduce feelings of shame and improve quality of life for people living with psoriasis. What is already known about this topic? Psoriasis can be associated with psychological distress. Various forms of psychological intervention have been tested; however, few compassion based interventions have been developed or trialled. What does this study add? This study demonstrates that compassion-based self-help is acceptable to people with psoriasis. This study provides provisional evidence of effectiveness of compassion based self-help in reducing feelings of shame and improving quality of life for people living with psoriasis.
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Atención Plena , Psoriasis , Empatía , Estudios de Factibilidad , Humanos , Psoriasis/terapia , Calidad de VidaRESUMEN
Attachment styles hold important downstream consequences for mental health through their contribution to the emergence of self-criticism. To date, no work has extended our understanding of the influence of attachment styles on self-criticism at a neurobiological level. Herein we investigate the relationship between self-reported attachment styles and neural markers of self-criticism using fMRI. A correlation network analysis revealed lingual gyrus activation during self-criticism, a marker of visual mental imagery, correlated with amygdala activity (threat response). It also identified that secure attachment positively correlated with lingual gyrus activation, whilst avoidant attachment was negatively correlated with lingual gyrus activation. Further, at greater levels of amygdala response, more securely attached individuals showed greater lingual gyrus activation, and more avoidantly attached individuals showed less lingual gyrus activation. Our data provide the first evidence that attachment mechanisms may modulate threat responses and mental imagery when engaging in self-criticism, which have important clinical and broader social implications.
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Amígdala del Cerebelo/fisiología , Mapeo Encefálico , Apego a Objetos , Lóbulo Occipital/fisiología , Autoevaluación (Psicología) , Emociones/fisiología , Femenino , Humanos , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Masculino , Relaciones Padres-Hijo , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Compassion is a complex cognitive, emotional and behavioural process that has important real-world consequences for the self and others. Considering this, it is important to understand how compassion is communicated. The current research investigated the expression and perception of compassion via the face. We generated exemplar images of two compassionate facial expressions induced from two mental imagery tasks with different compassionate motivations (Study 1). Our kind- and empathic compassion faces were perceived differently and the empathic-compassion expression was perceived as best depicting the general definition of compassion (Study 2). Our two composite faces differed in their perceived happiness, kindness, sadness, fear and concern, which speak to their underling motivation and emotional resonance. Finally, both faces were accurately discriminated when presented along a compassion continuum (Study 3). Our results demonstrate two perceptually and functionally distinct facial expressions of compassion, with potentially different consequences for the suffering of others.
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Empatía , Expresión Facial , Adolescente , Adulto , Gráficos por Computador , Simulación por Computador , Emociones , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Modelos Psicológicos , Motivación , Conducta Social , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Research demonstrates that highly self-critical individuals can respond negatively to the initial introduction of a range of therapeutic interventions. Yet touch as a form of therapeutic intervention in self-critical individuals has received limited prior investigation, despite documentation of its beneficial effects for well-being. Using the Forms of Self-Criticism/Self-Reassuring Scale, 15 high- and 14 low- self-critical individuals (from a sample of 139 females) were recruited to assess how self-criticism impacts upon a single instance of focused touch. All participants took part in a hand massage- and haptic control- intervention. Salivary cortisol and alpha amylase, as well as questionnaire measures of emotional responding were taken before and after the interventions. Following hand massage, analyses revealed cortisol decreased significantly across all participants; and that significant changes in emotional responding reflected well-being improvements across all participants. Supplementary analyses further revealed decreased alpha amylase responding to hand massage as compared to a compassion-focused intervention in the same (highly self-critical) individuals. Taken together, the physiological and emotional data indicate high self-critical individuals responded in a comparable manner to low self-critical individuals to a single instance of hand massage. This highlights that focused touch may be beneficial when first engaging highly self-critical individuals with specific interventions.
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Emociones/fisiología , Mano/fisiología , Masaje/métodos , Masaje/psicología , Autoevaluación (Psicología) , Tacto/fisiología , Adulto , Estudios Cruzados , Empatía/fisiología , Femenino , Humanos , Hidrocortisona/análisis , Hidrocortisona/metabolismo , Masculino , Saliva/química , Saliva/metabolismo , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , alfa-Amilasas/análisis , alfa-Amilasas/metabolismoRESUMEN
UNLABELLED: This study assessed the acceptability of practising compassionate imagery as an online task without clinician support. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline, after, and 6 months of follow-up. Participants engaged safely and successfully with the tasks. There were significant improvements in questionnaire scores which were largely maintained over 6 months. PRACTITIONER POINTS: People can practise compassionate imagery tasks in an unsupervised way from online recordings and not suffer adverse effects (even with higher baseline scores in self-criticism). Compassionate imagery recordings may be used as an adjunct to improve traditional psychotherapy.
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Empatía , Imágenes en Psicoterapia/métodos , Psicoterapia/métodos , Adulto , Depresión/terapia , Estudios de Factibilidad , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Proyectos Piloto , Escalas de Valoración Psiquiátrica , Autoevaluación (Psicología) , Estudiantes , Reino Unido , Universidades , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Imagery is known to be a powerful means of stimulating various physiological processes and is increasingly used within standard psychological therapies. Compassion-focused imagery (CFI) has been used to stimulate affiliative emotion in people with mental health problems. However, evidence suggests that self-critical individuals may have particular difficulties in this domain with single trials. The aim of the present study was to further investigate the role of self-criticism in responsiveness to CFI by specifically pre-selecting participants based on trait self-criticism. DESIGN: Using the Forms of Self-Criticism/Self-Reassuring Scale, 29 individuals from a total sample of 139 were pre-selected to determine how self-criticism impacts upon an initial instance of imagery. METHODS: All participants took part in three activities: a control imagery intervention (useable data N = 25), a standard CFI intervention (useable data N = 25), and a non-intervention control (useable data N = 24). Physiological measurements (alpha amylase) as well as questionnaire measures of emotional responding (i.e., the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, the Types of Positive Affect Scale, and the State Adult Attachment Scale) were taken before and after the different interventions. RESULTS: Following both imagery interventions, repeated measures analyses revealed that alpha amylase increased significantly for high self-critics compared with low self-critics. High self-critics (HSC) also reported greater insecurity on entering the imagery session and more negative CFI experiences compared with low self-critics. CONCLUSIONS: Data demonstrate that HSC respond negatively to imagery interventions in a single trial. This highlights that imagery focused therapies (e.g., CFI) need interventions that manage fears, blocks, and resistances to the techniques, particularly in HSC. PRACTITIONER POINTS: An initial instance of imagery (e.g., CFI) can be frightening for people who have a tendency to be self-critical. This research provides examples of physiological and emotional responses to imagery type therapies in high and low self-critics, and associated clinical implications. Therapists may find it helpful to be mindful that when introducing imagery based therapies, highly self-critical patients need interventions that manage fears, blocks, and resistances to the techniques.
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Afecto/fisiología , Imágenes en Psicoterapia/normas , Apego a Objetos , Evaluación de Resultado en la Atención de Salud , Autoimagen , alfa-Amilasas/análisis , Adulto , Femenino , Humanos , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Self-medication with painkillers is widespread and increasing, and evidence about influences on painkiller dependence is needed to inform efforts to prevent and treat problem painkiller use. DESIGN: Online questionnaire survey. PARTICIPANTS: People in the general population who had pain and used painkillers in the last month (N = 112). MEASUREMENTS: Pain frequency and intensity, use of over-the-counter and prescription painkillers, risk of substance abuse (Screener and Opioid Assessment for Patients with Pain [SOAPP] scale), depression, anxiety, stress, alexithymia, pain catastrophizing, pain anxiety, pain self-efficacy, pain acceptance, mindfulness, self-compassion, and painkiller dependence (Leeds Dependence Questionnaire). RESULTS: In multiple regression, the independent predictors of painkiller dependence were prescription painkiller use (ß 0.21), SOAPP score (ß 0.31), and pain acceptance (ß -0.29). Prescription painkiller use mediated the influence of pain intensity. Alexithymia, anxiety, and pain acceptance all moderated the influence of pain. CONCLUSIONS: The people most at risk of developing painkiller dependence are those who use prescription painkillers more frequently, who have a prior history of substance-related problems more generally, and who are less accepting of pain. Based on these findings, a preliminary model is presented with three types of influence on the development of painkiller dependence: 1) pain leading to painkiller use, 2) risk factors for substance-related problems irrespective of pain, and 3) psychological factors related to pain. The model could guide further research among the general population and high-risk groups, and acceptance-based interventions could be adapted and evaluated as methods to prevent and treat painkiller dependence.
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Analgésicos Opioides/uso terapéutico , Trastornos Relacionados con Opioides/epidemiología , Dolor/tratamiento farmacológico , Adulto , Síntomas Afectivos/epidemiología , Anciano , Analgésicos/uso terapéutico , Ansiedad/epidemiología , Depresión/epidemiología , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Medición de Riesgo , Factores de Riesgo , Estrés Psicológico/epidemiología , Trastornos Relacionados con Sustancias/epidemiología , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: There is increasing evidence that helping people develop compassion for themselves and others has powerful impacts on negative affect and promotes positive affect. However, clinical observations suggest that some individuals, particularly those high in self-criticism, can find self-compassion and receiving compassion difficult and can be fearful of it. This study therefore developed measures of fear of: compassion for others, compassion from others, and compassion for self. We also explored the relationship of these fears with established compassion for self and compassion for others measures, self-criticism, attachment styles, and depression, anxiety, and stress. METHOD: Students (N= 222) and therapists (N= 53) completed measures of fears of compassion, self-compassion, compassion for others, self-criticism, adult attachment, and psychopathology. RESULTS: Fear of compassion for self was linked to fear of compassion from others, and both were associated with self-coldness, self-criticism, insecure attachment, and depression, anxiety, and stress. In a multiple regression, self-criticism was the only significant predictor of depression. CONCLUSION: This study suggests the importance of exploring how and why some people may actively resist engaging in compassionate experiences or behaviours and be fearful of affiliative emotions in general. This has important implications for therapeutic interventions and the therapeutic relationship because affiliative emotions are major regulators of threat-based emotions.
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Empatía , Miedo/psicología , Relaciones Interpersonales , Apego a Objetos , Psicoterapia , Autoinforme , Adolescente , Adulto , Afecto , Reacción de Prevención , Depresión/psicología , Análisis Factorial , Femenino , Humanos , Amor , Masculino , Meditación/psicología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Relaciones Profesional-Paciente , Psicometría/métodos , Análisis de Regresión , Autoevaluación (Psicología) , Caracteres Sexuales , Estrés Psicológico/psicología , Estudiantes/psicología , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
PROBLEM: Limited literature suggests that gasoline prices have substantial effects on reducing fatal crashes. However, the literature focuses only on fatal crashes and does not examine the effects on all traffic crashes. METHODS: Mississippi traffic crash data from April 2004-December 2008 from the Mississippi Highway Patrol and regular-grade unleaded gasoline price data from the Energy Information Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy were used to investigate the effects of gasoline prices on traffic safety by age, gender, and race. RESULTS: Gasoline prices have both short-term and intermediate-term effects on reducing total traffic crashes and crashes of females, whites, and blacks. The intermediate-term effects are generally stronger than the short-term effects. Gasoline prices also have short-term effects on reducing crashes of younger drivers and intermediate-term effects on older drivers and male drivers. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Higher gasoline taxes reduce traffic crashes and may result in additional societal benefits.
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Accidentes de Tránsito/tendencias , Conducción de Automóvil , Petróleo/economía , Adolescente , Adulto , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Mississippi/epidemiología , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
This paper presents a series of case studies to explore the understanding, acceptance and value of compassionate mind training (CMT) with psychotic voice hearers. We were interested in the degree to which such people are able to access and feel the positive emotions of 'warmth' and 'contentment' to become more self-compassionate. We also explored how CMT affected participants' hostile voices, their levels of anxiety, depression, paranoia and self-criticism. Participants were invited to offer suggestions for tailoring this approach for voice hearers. Results showed decreases for all participants in depression, psychoticism, anxiety, paranoia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and interpersonal sensitivity. All participants' auditory hallucinations became less malevolent, less persecuting and more reassuring.
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Empatía , Alucinaciones/terapia , Hostilidad , Terapias Mente-Cuerpo/métodos , Adulto , Trastornos de Ansiedad/complicaciones , Trastornos de Ansiedad/diagnóstico , Trastornos de Ansiedad/terapia , Trastorno Depresivo/complicaciones , Trastorno Depresivo/diagnóstico , Trastorno Depresivo/terapia , Emociones , Estudios de Seguimiento , Alucinaciones/complicaciones , Humanos , Control Interno-Externo , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Trastornos Paranoides/complicaciones , Trastornos Paranoides/diagnóstico , Trastornos Paranoides/terapia , Poder Psicológico , Escalas de Valoración Psiquiátrica , Esquizofrenia/complicaciones , Esquizofrenia/terapia , Autoimagen , AutorrevelaciónRESUMEN
Self-criticism has long been associated with a variety of psychological problems and is often a key focus for intervention in psychotherapy. Recent work has suggested that self-critics have underelaborated and underdeveloped capacities for compassionate self-soothing and warmth. This pilot study developed a diary for monitoring self-attacking and self-soothing thoughts and images. It also explored the personal experiences of a group of volunteer self-critics from the local depression support group who were given training in self-soothing and self-compassion. Although using small numbers, this study suggests the potential value of developing more complex methodologies for studying the capacity for self-compassion, interventions to increase self-compassion (including imagery techniques), and their effects on mental health.