A compassionate imagery intervention for patients with persecutory delusions
Background: Negative beliefs about the self, including low self-compassion, have been identified as a putative causal factor in the occurrence of paranoia. Therefore, improving self-compassion may be one route to reduce paranoia. Aims: To assess the feasibility, acceptability, and potential clinica...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press
2021
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| _version_ | 1797077173620703232 |
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| author | Forkert, A Brown, P Freeman, D Waite, F |
| author_facet | Forkert, A Brown, P Freeman, D Waite, F |
| author_sort | Forkert, A |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | Background:
Negative beliefs about the self, including low self-compassion, have been identified as a putative causal factor in the occurrence of paranoia. Therefore, improving self-compassion may be one route to reduce paranoia.
Aims:
To assess the feasibility, acceptability, and potential clinical effects of a brief compassionate imagery intervention for patients with persecutory delusions.
Method:
Twelve patients with persecutory delusions received an individual four-session compassionate imagery intervention. Assessments of self-concept and paranoia were completed before treatment, immediately after treatment, and at 1-month follow-up. A qualitative study exploring participants’ experiences of the treatment was also completed.
Results:
Twelve out of 14 eligible patients referred to the study agreed to take part. All participants completed all therapy sessions and assessments. Post-treatment, there were improvements in self-compassion (change score –0.64, 95% CI –1.04, –0.24, d = –1.78), negative beliefs about the self (change score 2.42, 95% CI –0.37, 5.20, d = 0.51), and paranoia (change score 10.08, 95% CI 3.47, 16.69, d = 0.61). There were no serious adverse events. Three themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: ‘effortful learning’, ‘seeing change’ and ‘taking it forward’. Participants described a process of active and effortful engagement in therapy which was rewarded with positive changes, including feeling calmer, gaining clarity, and developing acceptance.
Conclusion:
This uncontrolled feasibility study indicates that a brief compassionate imagery intervention for patients with persecutory delusions is feasible, acceptable, and may lead to clinical benefits.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T00:14:05Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:7a3b1f65-5945-47c9-9632-177ac3b5c3b0 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T00:14:05Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:7a3b1f65-5945-47c9-9632-177ac3b5c3b02022-03-26T20:42:39ZA compassionate imagery intervention for patients with persecutory delusionsJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:7a3b1f65-5945-47c9-9632-177ac3b5c3b0EnglishSymplectic ElementsCambridge University Press2021Forkert, ABrown, PFreeman, DWaite, FBackground: Negative beliefs about the self, including low self-compassion, have been identified as a putative causal factor in the occurrence of paranoia. Therefore, improving self-compassion may be one route to reduce paranoia. Aims: To assess the feasibility, acceptability, and potential clinical effects of a brief compassionate imagery intervention for patients with persecutory delusions. Method: Twelve patients with persecutory delusions received an individual four-session compassionate imagery intervention. Assessments of self-concept and paranoia were completed before treatment, immediately after treatment, and at 1-month follow-up. A qualitative study exploring participants’ experiences of the treatment was also completed. Results: Twelve out of 14 eligible patients referred to the study agreed to take part. All participants completed all therapy sessions and assessments. Post-treatment, there were improvements in self-compassion (change score –0.64, 95% CI –1.04, –0.24, d = –1.78), negative beliefs about the self (change score 2.42, 95% CI –0.37, 5.20, d = 0.51), and paranoia (change score 10.08, 95% CI 3.47, 16.69, d = 0.61). There were no serious adverse events. Three themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: ‘effortful learning’, ‘seeing change’ and ‘taking it forward’. Participants described a process of active and effortful engagement in therapy which was rewarded with positive changes, including feeling calmer, gaining clarity, and developing acceptance. Conclusion: This uncontrolled feasibility study indicates that a brief compassionate imagery intervention for patients with persecutory delusions is feasible, acceptable, and may lead to clinical benefits. |
| spellingShingle | Forkert, A Brown, P Freeman, D Waite, F A compassionate imagery intervention for patients with persecutory delusions |
| title | A compassionate imagery intervention for patients with persecutory delusions |
| title_full | A compassionate imagery intervention for patients with persecutory delusions |
| title_fullStr | A compassionate imagery intervention for patients with persecutory delusions |
| title_full_unstemmed | A compassionate imagery intervention for patients with persecutory delusions |
| title_short | A compassionate imagery intervention for patients with persecutory delusions |
| title_sort | compassionate imagery intervention for patients with persecutory delusions |
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