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Effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on shame, self-compassion and psychological distress in anxious and depressed patients: a pilot study

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dc.contributor.authorProeve, M.
dc.contributor.authorAnton, R.
dc.contributor.authorKenny, M.
dc.date.issued2018
dc.description.abstractObjectives: The tendency to experience shame or guilt is associated differentially with anxiety and depression, with shame being associated with greater psychopathology. Correlational studies have shown self-compassion to be related to lower shame and rumination, and mindfulness-based interventions increase self-compassion. Therefore, mindfulness-based interventions may decrease shame. This pilot study aimed to assess the association of shame, rumination, self-compassion, and psychological distress and the effects of a mindfulness-based intervention on these measures in a clinical sample. Design: Single-group design with pre-test and post-test measures. Method: Thirty-two service users who experienced clinically diagnosed depressive or anxiety disorders in a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy programme were assessed before and twenty-two after therapy with measures of shame-proneness, external shame, rumination, self-compassion, and psychological distress. Results: Shame-proneness and external shame were positively correlated with self-coldness, and external shame was positively correlated with stress and depressive symptoms. Self-compassion increased and self-coldness decreased, while shame-proneness, rumination, anxiety, and stress symptoms decreased from pre- to post-treatment. There was no significant reduction in depressive symptoms, guilt-proneness, or external shame. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary findings suggest that mindfulness-based approaches may be helpful in increasing self-compassion and reducing shame-proneness in mixed groups of anxious and depressed patients. Controlled studies of the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on shame in clinical populations are warranted. Practitioner Points: Shame-proneness and external shame showed different patterns of relationship with depressive and stress symptoms and with self-compassion. Shame-proneness decreased to a greater extent than external shame decreased following participation in an MBCT group. Mindfulness-based interventions may benefit shame-proneness to a greater extent than external shame.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityMichael Proeve, Rebekah Anton and Maura Kenny
dc.identifier.citationClinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 2018; 91(4):434-449
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/papt.12170
dc.identifier.issn1099-0879
dc.identifier.issn2044-8341
dc.identifier.orcidProeve, M. [0000-0002-4710-585X]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/123854
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherWiley
dc.rights© 2018 The British Psychological Society
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12170
dc.subjectAnxiety; shame
dc.titleEffects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on shame, self-compassion and psychological distress in anxious and depressed patients: a pilot study
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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