Fears of compassion in a depressed population: Implication for psychotherapy
Journal article
Authors | Gilbert, Paul, McEwan, Kirsten, Catarino, Francisca and Baião, Rita |
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Abstract | Background: While psychological therapies for depression have advanced in the last 20 years, still many people respond only partially and remain vulnerable to relapse. Insight into the limitations of our psychological therapies might be obtained from recent research that has revealed, in nonclinical populations, that some people can be fearful of positive emotions especially affiliative and compassion-focused ones. Aims: This study explores the fears of compassion in a clinical population and their associations with selfcriticism, self-compassion and depression, anxiety and stress. Method: 53 depressed patients completed a series of self-report scales. Results: Fears of compassion, particularly for oneself and from others, were strongly linked to self-criticism, depression, anxiety and stress, and negatively associated with self-compassion and self-reassurance. Conclusions: Since compassion and the affiliative emotions associated with compassion play a fundamental role in emotion regulation, individuals who are blocked or fearful of accessing these emotions are likely to be struggle with emotional regulation and the psychotherapeutic process. Research on the fears of compassion and affiliative emotions suggests these are important therapeutic targets. |
Background: While psychological therapies for depression have advanced in the last 20 years, still many people respond only partially and remain vulnerable to relapse. Insight into the limitations of our psychological therapies might be obtained from recent research that has revealed, in nonclinical populations, that some people can be fearful of positive emotions especially affiliative and compassion-focused ones. | |
Keywords | Compassion; Depression; Anxiety; Stress; Fears; Self-compassion; Self-criticism |
Year | 2014 |
Journal | Journal of Depression and Anxiety |
Publisher | OMICS International |
ISSN | 21671044 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.4172/2167-1044.S2-003 |
Web address (URL) | http://hdl.handle.net/10545/621735 |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | |
hdl:10545/621735 | |
Publication dates | 13 May 2014 |
Publication process dates | |
Deposited | 14 Jul 2017, 10:46 |
Rights | Archived with thanks to Journal of Depression and Anxiety |
Contributors | University of Derby |
File | File Access Level Open |
File | File Access Level Open |
File | File Access Level Open |
https://repository.derby.ac.uk/item/94y99/fears-of-compassion-in-a-depressed-population-implication-for-psychotherapy
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