Abstract
Background
Compassion-focused imagery (CFI) is a technique used to facilitate self-compassion by constructing and exploring imagery of a compassionate ideal. It is commonly used in Compassionate Mind Training, as part of a wider skills training intervention. This review aimed to explore the effectiveness of CFI on psychological outcomes when used as a brief standalone intervention across clinical and non-clinical adult populations. Population-specific effects were also explored.
Methods
Following an extensive literature search, twenty studies were identified for inclusion in the review. Quality and risk of bias assessment was completed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) tool. Where available, effect sizes were calculated for outcome measures of self-compassion, self-criticism and shame. Study findings were qualitatively synthesized.
Results
Most of the studies reported improvements in psychological outcomes, such as improvements in self-compassion and positive affect, reduction in self-criticism, shame and paranoia. Across measures of self-compassion, self-criticism and shame, the effect sizes ranged between 0.02 - 1.1 and estimated treatment effects range between 0.09 - 1.39. Preliminary evidence is promising, with most studies reporting improvements in psychological outcomes; however the evidence is limited by the methodological challenges and heterogeneity within the literature. Studies which implemented CFI in severe head injury samples reported limited improvements. Improvements in paranoia measures were more consistently reported in non-clinical samples, when compared to studies using clinical samples. High levels of self-criticism emerged as an important potential barrier in individuals’ ability to engage with CFI tasks.
Compassion-focused imagery (CFI) is a technique used to facilitate self-compassion by constructing and exploring imagery of a compassionate ideal. It is commonly used in Compassionate Mind Training, as part of a wider skills training intervention. This review aimed to explore the effectiveness of CFI on psychological outcomes when used as a brief standalone intervention across clinical and non-clinical adult populations. Population-specific effects were also explored.
Methods
Following an extensive literature search, twenty studies were identified for inclusion in the review. Quality and risk of bias assessment was completed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) tool. Where available, effect sizes were calculated for outcome measures of self-compassion, self-criticism and shame. Study findings were qualitatively synthesized.
Results
Most of the studies reported improvements in psychological outcomes, such as improvements in self-compassion and positive affect, reduction in self-criticism, shame and paranoia. Across measures of self-compassion, self-criticism and shame, the effect sizes ranged between 0.02 - 1.1 and estimated treatment effects range between 0.09 - 1.39. Preliminary evidence is promising, with most studies reporting improvements in psychological outcomes; however the evidence is limited by the methodological challenges and heterogeneity within the literature. Studies which implemented CFI in severe head injury samples reported limited improvements. Improvements in paranoia measures were more consistently reported in non-clinical samples, when compared to studies using clinical samples. High levels of self-criticism emerged as an important potential barrier in individuals’ ability to engage with CFI tasks.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy |
| Early online date | 20 Nov 2022 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 20 Nov 2022 |
Keywords
- compassion focused imagery
- compassion focused therapy
- compassionate mind training