The effects of a combination of cognitive interventions and loving-kindness meditations (C-METTA) on guilt, shame and PTSD symptoms: results from a pilot randomized controlled trial
ABSTRACTBackground: Trauma-related guilt and shame are crucial for the development and maintenance of PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder). We developed an intervention combining cognitive techniques with loving-kindness meditations (C-METTA) that specifically target these emotions. C-METTA is an in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20008066.2024.2308439 |
| _version_ | 1797321535846875136 |
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| author | Meike Müller-Engelmann Luisa Bahnemann Stella Kümmerle |
| author_facet | Meike Müller-Engelmann Luisa Bahnemann Stella Kümmerle |
| author_sort | Meike Müller-Engelmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACTBackground: Trauma-related guilt and shame are crucial for the development and maintenance of PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder). We developed an intervention combining cognitive techniques with loving-kindness meditations (C-METTA) that specifically target these emotions. C-METTA is an intervention of six weekly individual treatment sessions followed by a four-week practice phase.Objective: This study examined C-METTA in a proof-of-concept study within a randomized wait-list controlled trial.Method: We randomly assigned 32 trauma-exposed patients with a DSM-5 diagnosis to C-METTA or a wait-list condition (WL). Primary outcomes were clinician-rated PTSD symptoms (CAPS-5) and trauma-related guilt and shame. Secondary outcomes included psychopathology, self-criticism, well-being, and self-compassion. Outcomes were assessed before the intervention phase and after the practice phase.Results: Mixed-design analyses showed greater reductions in C-METTA versus WL in clinician-rated PTSD symptoms (d = −1.09), guilt (d = −2.85), shame (d = −2.14), psychopathology and self-criticism.Conclusion: Our findings support positive outcomes of C-METTA and might contribute to improved care for patients with stress-related disorders. The study was registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00023470). |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:59:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fece5394a2024a93b202dd5df6ba4dec |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2000-8066 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:59:59Z |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| spelling | doaj.art-fece5394a2024a93b202dd5df6ba4dec2024-02-07T14:22:16ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEuropean Journal of Psychotraumatology2000-80662024-12-0115110.1080/20008066.2024.2308439The effects of a combination of cognitive interventions and loving-kindness meditations (C-METTA) on guilt, shame and PTSD symptoms: results from a pilot randomized controlled trialMeike Müller-Engelmann0Luisa Bahnemann1Stella Kümmerle2Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, GermanyDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, GermanyDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, GermanyABSTRACTBackground: Trauma-related guilt and shame are crucial for the development and maintenance of PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder). We developed an intervention combining cognitive techniques with loving-kindness meditations (C-METTA) that specifically target these emotions. C-METTA is an intervention of six weekly individual treatment sessions followed by a four-week practice phase.Objective: This study examined C-METTA in a proof-of-concept study within a randomized wait-list controlled trial.Method: We randomly assigned 32 trauma-exposed patients with a DSM-5 diagnosis to C-METTA or a wait-list condition (WL). Primary outcomes were clinician-rated PTSD symptoms (CAPS-5) and trauma-related guilt and shame. Secondary outcomes included psychopathology, self-criticism, well-being, and self-compassion. Outcomes were assessed before the intervention phase and after the practice phase.Results: Mixed-design analyses showed greater reductions in C-METTA versus WL in clinician-rated PTSD symptoms (d = −1.09), guilt (d = −2.85), shame (d = −2.14), psychopathology and self-criticism.Conclusion: Our findings support positive outcomes of C-METTA and might contribute to improved care for patients with stress-related disorders. The study was registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00023470).https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20008066.2024.2308439PTSDtrauma-related guilttrauma-related shameloving-kindness meditationcognitive interventionsTEPT |
| spellingShingle | Meike Müller-Engelmann Luisa Bahnemann Stella Kümmerle The effects of a combination of cognitive interventions and loving-kindness meditations (C-METTA) on guilt, shame and PTSD symptoms: results from a pilot randomized controlled trial European Journal of Psychotraumatology PTSD trauma-related guilt trauma-related shame loving-kindness meditation cognitive interventions TEPT |
| title | The effects of a combination of cognitive interventions and loving-kindness meditations (C-METTA) on guilt, shame and PTSD symptoms: results from a pilot randomized controlled trial |
| title_full | The effects of a combination of cognitive interventions and loving-kindness meditations (C-METTA) on guilt, shame and PTSD symptoms: results from a pilot randomized controlled trial |
| title_fullStr | The effects of a combination of cognitive interventions and loving-kindness meditations (C-METTA) on guilt, shame and PTSD symptoms: results from a pilot randomized controlled trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effects of a combination of cognitive interventions and loving-kindness meditations (C-METTA) on guilt, shame and PTSD symptoms: results from a pilot randomized controlled trial |
| title_short | The effects of a combination of cognitive interventions and loving-kindness meditations (C-METTA) on guilt, shame and PTSD symptoms: results from a pilot randomized controlled trial |
| title_sort | effects of a combination of cognitive interventions and loving kindness meditations c metta on guilt shame and ptsd symptoms results from a pilot randomized controlled trial |
| topic | PTSD trauma-related guilt trauma-related shame loving-kindness meditation cognitive interventions TEPT |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20008066.2024.2308439 |
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