Use of the booklet category test to assess abstract concept formation in schizophrenic disorders

The relationship of concept formation abilities to the presence or absence of delusions in schizophrenic disorders was investigated. Twenty-six schizophrenic patients and 14 normal individuals were administered a short form of the Booklet Category Test (BCT). Patients were grouped into those with and without delusions. It was hypothesized that the delusional group would perform significantly better on the BCT (obtain lower error scores) than the nondelusional group. Normal and delusional groups obtained significantly lower BCT error scores than the nondelusional group, even when differences in IQ scores were statistically partialled out. The two schizophrenic groups also differed significantly on BCT error scores with the delusional group performing better than the nondelusional group

O que é Compaixão? Um estudo multicultural sobre as associações semânticas e experiências subjetivas de compaixão

Empirical research has documented the benefits of compassion for mental health, psychosocial and physiological wellbeing. Yet, definitions of compassion vary amongst theoretical approaches, researchers, clinicians and lay people. The meaning and nature of compassion can be misunderstood and become linked to fears, blocks and resistances to compassion. The current paper defines compassion from the perspective of compassion focused therapy (CFT) and distinguishes it from other commonly related concepts, using a qualitative methodological approach. Participants’ understanding of compassion was explored through their selection of the words they associated with compassion and self-compassion, and descriptions of recalled experiences of giving and receiving compassion, with cultural differences further examined. A sample of 584 adult participants was recruited from general community populations in Australia (n = 296), Portugal (n = 183) and Singapore (n = 105) and completed a self report questionnaire assessing the meaning and the subjective experiences of compassion. Empathy, Kindness and Understanding were the three words participants most frequently associated with ‘Compassion’. The most frequent three words selected by participants associated with ‘Self-compassion’ were Acceptance, Strength and Understanding. Various cultural differences among countries were identified and discussed. The findings also clarified participants’ experiences of compassion for others, receiving compassion from others and self-compassion, identified similarities and differences between countries, and revealed a significant proportion of people who were unable to recollect/ describe compassion experiences (across the three flows). The findings are discussed in light of a CFT framework and clinical implications for CFT practitioners are derived.Estudos empíricos têm documentado os benefícios da compaixão para a saúde mental, bem-estar psicossocial e fisiológico. No entanto, as definições de compaixão variam entre abordagens teóricas, investigadores, clínicos e leigos. O significado e a natureza da compaixão podem ser mal compreendidos e ligados a medos, bloqueios e resistências à compaixão. O presente artigo define a compaixão a partir da perspetiva da terapia focada na compaixão (TFC) e distingue-a de outros conceitos comumente associados, usando uma abordagem metodológica qualitativa. A compreensão dos participantes sobre o que é a compaixão foi explorada através da seleção das palavras que eles associavam com compaixão e auto-compaixão, e das suas descrições de experiências passadas de dar e receber compaixão, com diferenças culturais sendo também examinadas. Uma amostra de 584 participantes adultos foi recrutada da comunidade geral na Austrália (n = 296), Portugal (n = 183) e Singapura (n = 105), e completou um questionário de auto-resposta que avaliava o significado e as experiências subjetivas de compaixão. Empatia, Bondade e Compreensão foram as três palavras que os participantes mais frequentemente associaram a ‘Compaixão’. As três palavras mais frequentemente selecionadas pelos participantes associadas à ‘Auto-compaixão’ foram Aceitação, Força e Compreensão. Várias diferenças culturais entre os países foram identificadas e discutidas. As descobertas também esclareceram as experiências dos participantes de compaixão pelos outros, receber compaixão de outros e auto-compaixão, identificaram semelhanças e diferenças entre países e revelaram que uma proporção significativa de pessoas não conseguiu lembrar/descrever experiências de compaixão. Os resultados são discutidos à luz da abordagem de TFC e são derivadas implicações clínicas para psicoterapeutas de TFC

“You are already all you need to be”: A case illustration of compassion-focused therapy for shame and perfectionism

This paper presents the case of a 28-year-old woman diagnosed with major depressive disorder, with strong features of perfectionism, shame, and self-criticism, treated via 12 sessions of compassion-focused therapy (CFT). CFT is an integrative therapeutic approach that draws upon evolutionary psychology, attachment theory, and applied psychological processes from neuroscience, clinical and social psychology. The effectiveness of compassion focused approaches with perfectionism and self-criticism across a range of clinical disorders is becoming increasingly well-established. Given this mounting evidence, a four-phase, 12-session CFT treatment plan was developed for this case: (1–2) establishing the therapeutic relationship; (3–4) psychoeducation regarding the evolutionary model of compassion; (5–8) compassionate mind training and skills development; (9–11) working with perfectionism, shame, and self-criticism. A follow-up session focused on envisioning a compassionate future. Therapeutic process and clinical outcome will be discussed, as well as implications for using CFT in clinical practice, especially where perfectionism, shame, and self-criticism are part of the clinical presentation

Perspectives on self-compassion from adult female survivors of sexual abuse and the counselors who work with them

While compassion-focused therapy (CFT) holds significant promise as an intervention for survivors of sexual abuse, a history of abuse can uniquely impact an individual’s capacity to cultivate compassion and may generate a fear of compassion. Understanding the specific perspectives of sexual abuse survivors may inform the application of CFT-based interventions with this client group. Two separate focus groups were established for this purpose, one with adult female survivors of sexual abuse (n = 7) and another with sexual abuse counselors (n = 7). Transcripts were analyzed according to a consensual qualitative research design. Analysis of the survivor focus group identified two core domains, Barriers to Compassion, including poor relational templates, negative perception of self, low coping self-efficacy, and fears, resistance, and misperceptions regarding self-compassion, and Factors Supporting Compassion, including support from others, compassion for others, high coping self-efficacy, motivation and hope for change, and timing and readiness for change. Analysis of the counselor focus group revealed three domains, Therapeutic Factors to Support Compassion, including counselor authenticity and modeling, gradual introduction with consideration to individual needs, acknowledgment of suffering and offering an alternative perspective; Factors Affecting Client Readiness and Capacity, including shame, self-blame, and negative sense of self, response from others, and difficulty in changing self-critical habits; and Anticipated Outcomes, including providing a hope and recovery focus, offering an alternative perspective and coping strategy, and restoring trust. Findings are discussed in relation to clinical implications and relevance to a CFT model of intervention

Compassion-focused Therapy as an Intervention for Adult Survivors of Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse can have long-term negative impacts across psychological, physical, and interpersonal domains. Some of the common issues for survivors of sexual abuse include shame and self-blame, attachment-based difficulties, avoidant coping strategies, and reduced capacity for self-compassion. Compassion-focused therapy is a transdiagnostic intervention that specifically responds to these concerns. Compassion-focused therapy was originally developed for clients who experience high levels of shame and self-criticism and aims to strengthen the soothing and affiliative system through the cultivation of compassion. This article will highlight the theoretical alignment between some of the common issues and impacts associated with experiences of sexual abuse, with the core underlying principles of compassion-focused therapy. This includes (a) the capacity of the therapy's evolutionary framework to reduce perceptions of self-blame, (b) the cultivation of compassion to respond to feelings of shame, (c) acknowledgment of the role of early attachment experiences and facilitation of corrective affiliative experiences, (d) regulation of the threat-based system following trauma, and (e) provision of an alternative to avoidant-based coping by responding to distress with compassion. It is proposed that the theoretical framework and core focus and aims of compassion-focused therapy are highly applicable for survivors of sexual abuse and therefore holds significant promise as a treatment option for this client group

Early shame and safeness memories, and later depressive symptoms and safe affect: the mediating role of self-compassion

Compassion focused therapy (CFT) is a promising treatment for depression, especially where there are features of shame. CFT works to reduce fears of compassion, and develop compassion competencies, to alleviate distress and cultivate safe affect. While the relationship between fears of compassion, early emotional memories and depression is empirically supported, our aim was to explore the role of compassion competencies in these associations. A general population sample of 223 participants completed questionnaires measuring traumatic qualities and centrality of shame memories, early memories of warmth and safeness, compassion for others, from others and self-compassion, and depressive symptoms and safe affect. Results showed that shame memories’ traumatic qualities and centrality correlated positively with depressive symptoms and negatively with safe affect, compassion from others and self-compassion, while early memories of warmth and safeness correlated negatively with depressive symptoms and positively with safe affect and self-compassion. Self-compassion had the strongest correlations with depressive symptoms and safe affect. Path analysis revealed self-compassion as the only significant mediator on associations between early emotional memories, depressive symptoms and safe affect. Clinical implications include support for developing compassion competencies when working with depression and shame, and working directly with early emotional memories themselves

Motivational interviewing in compassion-based interventions: theory and practical applications

Background: Definitions of compassion include aspects of motivation, commitment, and action. Compassion-based interventions designed to cultivate compassion and self-compassion incorporate various practice and behavioural change goals. This article proposes that motivational interviewing (MI), which has been extensively used as a prelude to other psychological and health-related treatments to enhance behavioural change outcomes, could be used in a similar way to enhance outcomes of compassion-based interventions. Methods: This article provides an overview of definitions of compassion, common compassion-based interventions as well as their structure and behaviour change components, and describes MI as an approach to enhancing motivation, commitment, and action around these behaviour change components. Results: Three main compassion-based interventions were reviewed, namely Compassion-Focused Therapy, Mindful Self-Compassion, and Compassion Cultivation Training. It was identified that at least four aspects of motivation, commitment, and action could be the focus of MI as a prelude to these interventions, including attendance at sessions, meditation self-practice, active engagement with the suffering of self and others, and embodiment of compassionate action in daily life. Transcripts of example MI conversations in the context of compassion-based interventions have been provided, as well as recommendations regarding assessing motivation and commitment in this context. Conclusions: MI is proposed to be a promising prelude to compassion-based interventions, to enhance compassion motivation and commitment, and increase the likelihood of embodying compassionate action in daily life