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.

中文翻译：

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抑郁症大学生同情心训练的有效性初步调查：一项随机对照试验

目标

研究发现，高自我批评，低自我约束和同情心在大学生抑郁症状的发展中起着关键作用。当前的先导研究在伊朗进行，目的是评估诊断为学生的抑郁症，愤怒反省，自我批评，自我同情和害怕同情的症状的8疗程门诊同情心训练（CMT）的有效性。患有严重的抑郁症。

方法

所有参与者（30名妇女，年龄范围：21-29岁）均符合重度抑郁的标准，并被随机分配至CMT（n = 15）或未治疗对照组（n = 15）。治疗组每周两次进行8次CMT疗程。贝克抑郁量表（BDI-II），愤怒反省量表（ARS），自我批评/攻击和自我保证量表（FSCRS），对同情心的恐惧量表（FOCS）和自我同情心的量表（SCS）的得分）用作结果指标。干预前后进行评估。

结果

CMT的有效性，通过抑郁症的显著降低后干预率（支持˚F（1，28）= 9.02，p = 0.006，η ² = 0.24），复仇，自恨，思念和担心同情他人的那些与对照组相比，他们接受了CMT。CMT组的自我约束和自我同情（包括自我，共同的人性和正念项目）的积极表现也显着增加。

结论

结果表明，即使是短暂（4周）的同情心训练也可以作为对重度抑郁症学生的有效干预措施。包括大量和性别均衡的样本在内的进一步研究是必要的。