Mindful Self Compassion in Rehabilitation Inpatients

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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In recent years there has been convincing evidence of the positive effects of mindfulness based interventions, as a form of complementary and alternative medicine in regards to subjective well-being and physical health. There is growing evidence concerning the positive effects of these techniques in regards to an adequate stress management (e.g. respiration and heart rate variability). These findings can be found as well documented in the literature. For this study it is conducted to gain further insights into the role of mindfulness based meditation techniques for psychological well-being. Therefore it is intended to focus on clinical groups (e. g. depression and anxiety patients) in order to find out more about the relevance of mindfulness based meditation techniques as an adjunct for psychiatric and psychotherapeutic treatment. In this study special aspects of mental and spiritual health (e.g. self compassion, subjective perceived stress, spiritual well-being, and psychiatric symptoms) should be examined by comparing a group of clinical patients which practice mindfulness based meditation once a week with a control group, practicing PMR (progressive muscle relaxation)

Detailed Description
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A holistic view of man is increasingly becoming our consciousness these days. Simultaneously, the demand for efficient and cost-effective forms of treatment for mental illness rises. According to a study by the World Health Organization (2011), 37% of healthy working years are lost due to psychiatric disorders. Thus complementary-alternative methods (CAM) as mindfulness-based meditation are becoming more important in medicine. A special form of mindfulness meditation-based training offers Mindful Self Compassion (MSC) (to German: achtsames Selbstmitgefühl). As evidence-based sister program to the well-established procedure MBSR and MBCT, MSC provides about meditation, interpersonal exercises, informal practical exercises and homework, the opportunity to learn an attentive and loving contact with itself or to improve and thus contribute effectively to comprehensive well-being. The literature reveals that MSC helps to lead a fulfilling life and is positively related to life satisfaction, emotional intelligence, happiness, optimism and personal initiative. MSC is further negatively correlated with depression, anxiety, self-criticism, the suppression of negative emotions and a negative body image. Furthermore, it is apparent from a study by Blatt (1995) that patients who are very critical towards themselves tend to have less positive effects of antidepressants, placebo and psychotherapy. For this reason it seems of enormous relevance to develop and evaluate therapies, which can help to change people's perception of oneself, like MSC. Based on these results, which show a clear link between Self-Compassion and psychological well-being, a study should be carried out which examines the effects of mindful self compassion meditation on psychological well-being and the severity of clinical symptoms and thus allows a first assessment of effectiveness in clinical practice. A randomized controlled trial is investigated at the rehabilitation center Sonnenpark Rust Neusiedlersee where one group of patients (at least 70 patients anticipated) will undergo a shortened form (6 weeks, 75 minutes per week) of MSC training, compared to a group of patients (at least 70 patients anticipated) who undergo regular progressive muscle relaxation (PMR). Both trainings will take place once a week for 6 weeks and will each last for 75 minutes. Patients in both groups will be asked for homework assignments and will get a handout. All relevant parameters are examined at the beginning of the rehabilitation, as well as at the end of the stay at the center. A follow- up after 6 months is planned.

Official Title
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Mindful Self Compassion in Rehabilitation Inpatients: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Conditions
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Meditation, Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Mindful Self Compassion
* Behavioral: Progressive Muscle Relaxation


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Written consent for study participation age over 18 Exclusion Criteria: psychotic episode

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Mindful Self Compassion<br>Participants will receive a shortened form (6 weeks) of mindful self compassion meditation, once a week for 75 minutes, furthermore they get an audio cd and a handout to practice during the week | Behavioral: Mindful Self Compassion<br>* Mindful Self Compassion (MSC) training has its primary focus on developing a friendly relationship with oneself by meditation,conversation with the group and the trainer, informal practice and homework assignments. These relationship is founded on mindfulness; therefore the participants will learn a way concentrate on the present moment. The orginal MSC training by Neff and Germer is well established, this intervention will be a shortened form of the original version and will last for the whole visit of the clinical patients in rehabilitation<br>|
| Other: Progressive Muscle Relaxation<br>Participants will receive progressive muscle relaxation once a week for 75 minutes, furthermore they get an audio cd and a handout to practice during the week | Behavioral: Progressive Muscle Relaxation<br>* Progressive Muscle Relaxation by Jacobson is a well known relaxation technique where participants learn to recognize the difference between tension and relaxation by tensing and subsequently relaxing the muscles. The trainingw ill last the wohole stay and the control group will also do homework assignments.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) | Self compassion is captured via 26 items on a 5-point rating scale. Self Compassion is measured at the beginning and at the end of the 6 weeks intervention | Change from Baseline values in SCS at 6 weeks, follow up 6 months after study completion | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-18) | Anxiety, Depression and Somatization as subscales and General Symptom Burden as global score are captured via 18 items on a 4-point rating scale. | Change from Baseline values BSI-18 at 6 weeks, follow up 6 months after study completion | 
| Health Survey (SF-36) | Health-related quality of life is captured via 36 items over different answering conditions and has 8 subscales: physical functioning, physical role ,bodily pain, general health perceptions, vitality, social functioning, emotional role function and mental well-being | Change from Baseline values in SF-36 at 6 weeks, follow up 6 months after study completion | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Mindful Self Compassion short form, Progressive Muscle Relaxation