Effectiveness of Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Improving Self-Compassion Among Patients with Treatment-Resistant Depression
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Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of brief cognitive behavioral therapy in improving self-compassion among patients with treatment-resistant depression.
Methods and Materials: This quasi-experimental study used a pretest–posttest control-group design. The statistical population included patients with treatment-resistant depression referred to hospitals and psychology clinics in Shiraz, Iran, during 2024–2025. Thirty-four eligible patients with major depressive disorder who had not responded satisfactorily to at least two antidepressant classes after three months of treatment were selected by convenience sampling and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 17) and a control group (n = 17). The experimental group received eight 60-minute sessions of brief cognitive behavioral therapy based on Rad’s protocol, while the control group remained on a waitlist. Data were collected using the Self-Compassion Scale and analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance in SPSS-26.
Findings: Brief cognitive behavioral therapy had a significant multivariate effect on self-compassion dimensions (Wilks’ Lambda= 0.035, F= 96.103, p<0.001, η²= 0.665). The intervention significantly increased self-kindness (F= 75.753, p<0.001, η²= 0.243), common humanity (F= 92.656, p<0.001, η²= 0.381), and mindfulness (F= 133.924, p<0.001, η² = 0.237). It also significantly reduced self-judgment (F = 54.425, p< 0.001, η²= 0.477), isolation (F= 43.236, p<0.001, η²= 0.124), and over-identification (F= 34.086, p<0.001, η² = 0.267).
Conclusion: Brief cognitive behavioral therapy significantly improved self-compassion in patients with treatment-resistant depression.
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