A pilot study of brief self-compassion training with individuals in substance use disorder treatment.


Brief self-compassion training (BSCT) is a 4-session intervention designed to teach participants core self-compassion skills. The present study was a pilot study of the effects of BSCT on various mental health and well-being variables among individuals in intensive outpatient treatment for substance use. Fifty individuals initiated participation in the 4-week BSCT and completed measures of self-compassion, emotional intelligence, meaning in life, trauma-related guilt and shame, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Nineteen individuals completed both pre- and postassessments. Individuals who completed BSCT (n = 19) reported statistically significant increases in self-compassion (d = .66), emotional intelligence (d = .58), and presence of meaning in life (d = .64), and statistically significant reductions in trauma-related guilt (d = −.70) and shame (d = −.69). We also found trending significant changes in the negative alterations in cognitions and mood posttraumantic stress disorder symptom cluster (d = .63). We discuss feasibility for use of BSCT with individuals affected by mental health problems and highlight the importance for future studies to compare BSCT with control and active comparison interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved)