Self-Compassion Training for Depression and Anxiety

(SCCC Trial)

Overseen By Ryan Herringa, MD, PhD

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison

Must not be taking: Sympathetic nervous system drugs

Disqualifiers: Psychotic disorder, Medical impairment, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

25 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not require you to stop taking your current medications. However, some medications that affect physiological recordings might be excluded, and this will be decided individually by the study's lead doctor.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Self-Compassion for Children and Caregivers (SCCC) for depression and anxiety?

Research shows that self-compassion training, like Mindful Self-Compassion and Compassion Focused Therapy, can help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety by increasing mindfulness and self-kindness. These therapies have been effective in improving mental health and reducing stress, suggesting that similar self-compassion approaches could benefit children and caregivers. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is self-compassion training safe for humans?

Self-compassion training, including Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), is generally considered safe and is associated with increased emotional well-being and healthy coping strategies. However, some studies suggest that focusing on negative aspects of self-compassion may be linked to symptoms of anxiety and depression, so it's important to approach the training with guidance. ^{2 5 6 7 8}

How does self-compassion training differ from other treatments for depression and anxiety?

Self-compassion training is unique because it focuses on cultivating self-kindness, recognizing common humanity, and practicing mindfulness to reduce self-criticism and improve emotional well-being. Unlike traditional therapies, it involves an 8-week program with meditations and daily practices to help individuals relate to their painful experiences with understanding and care. ^{2 3 4 6 9}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The Self-Compassion for Children and Caregivers Study aims to understand if an online course designed to help kids and their caregivers learn self-compassion is feasible, enjoyable, and helpful for well-being and relationships in families from diverse backgrounds. Children ages 8-11 who have a caregiver willing to participate with them will: * Attend 2 in-person study visits (about 1-1.5 hour each) that includes * A survey for caregiver and child * A brief computer puzzle challengetask while heart rate and sweat is recorded (child) * A brief discussion about how the challenge went * Participate in a 6-session, online self-compassion course with other families (see back) * Provide feedback about how the course went

Research Team

Ryan Herringa, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for children aged 8-11 with significant anxiety or depression, attending Glenn Stephens Elementary in Madison, WI. They must be able to read/write in English and have a caregiver who can participate. Both need internet access for an online course. Children on certain medications affecting physiology recordings may be excluded.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 8 and 11 years old.

Youth are currently attending school at Glenn Stephens Elementary School in Madison, WI

Both parent and youth participants must be able to read/write in English

Exclusion Criteria

Parent or youth that is currently impaired by any medical condition that would prevent study participation

I am unable to understand or sign the consent form.

I am not on medications that affect my nervous system, as decided by the study's lead doctor.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

In-person Visits

Participants attend 2 in-person study visits including surveys, a computer puzzle challenge, and a discussion

1-2 weeks

2 visits (in-person)

Online Course

Participants engage in a 6-session, online self-compassion course with other families

6 weeks

Follow-up

Participants provide feedback about the course and are monitored for changes in anxiety/depression symptoms and other outcomes

up to 2 years

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Self-Compassion for Children and Caregivers (SCCC)

Trial Overview The study tests an online self-compassion course's impact on well-being and family relationships. It involves two in-person visits for surveys and physiological recording during a task, followed by a six-session online course with other families, concluding with feedback from participants.

Participant Groups

Group I: Self-Compassion Intervention - Spanish speaking Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Self-Compassion Intervention - English speaking Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,249

Recruited

3,255,000+

Mind & Life Institute

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

20+

Findings from Research

Both Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) significantly improved self-compassion, mindfulness, and reduced symptoms of rumination, depression, anxiety, and stress in a pilot study of 58 participants.

CFT was particularly effective in enhancing mindfulness for all participants, while MBCT specifically benefited those with high levels of rumination, indicating that both therapies can be effective in different ways depending on individual needs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) on Symptom Change, Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, and Rumination in Clients With Depression, Anxiety, and Stress. Frostadottir, AD., Dorjee, D.[2020]

Self-compassion, which includes self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness, is linked to better mental health and less psychological distress, highlighting its importance in emotional well-being.

The Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program, an 8-week course with weekly sessions, effectively teaches participants to develop self-compassion through various meditative and practical exercises, demonstrating its potential as a therapeutic intervention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Self-compassion in clinical practice. Germer, CK., Neff, KD.[2013]

In two studies involving 38 parents in a pilot trial and 160 families in a longitudinal study, higher levels of self-compassion in parents were linked to better parenting practices and fewer emotional and behavioral problems in their children.

While self-compassion was associated with positive parenting, the relationship with children's problems diminished when accounting for factors like child gender and parental education, suggesting that further research is needed to explore interventions that enhance self-compassion to improve parenting outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Self-Compassion and Parenting in Mothers and Fathers with Depression. Psychogiou, L., Legge, K., Parry, E., et al.[2020]

An 8-week Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) course for 55 participants led to significant improvements in self-compassion, well-being, and positive emotions, while reducing self-criticism and distress, with effects maintained at a 3-month follow-up.

The study suggests that CMT can be a beneficial intervention for enhancing psychological health in community settings, highlighting the importance of self-compassion in improving overall well-being.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Compassionate Mind Training: An 8-week group for the general public. Irons, C., Heriot-Maitland, C.[2021]

The paper discusses three specific interventions designed to help highly self-critical patients cultivate self-compassion, providing theoretical background and case examples for each.

Each intervention is supported by research evidence that outlines its mechanism of change, highlighting the effectiveness of these approaches in improving self-compassion among patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The transdiagnostic phenomenon of self-criticism. Schanche, E.[2019]

Parents with high self-compassion, developed from supportive childhood experiences, are better equipped to help their children manage difficult emotions, fostering secure attachments and promoting the child's own self-compassion.

Enhancing self-compassion through interventions could break the cycle of insecure attachment across generations, leading to healthier emotional development in children.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parent Self-Compassion and Supportive Responses to Child Difficult Emotion: An Intergenerational Theoretical Model Rooted in Attachment. Lathren, C., Bluth, K., Zvara, B.[2022]

The online Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) training program, conducted over eight weeks with 253 participants in China, demonstrated high retention rates and positive outcomes, indicating its effectiveness in enhancing self-compassion and emotional well-being.

Participants showed significant improvements in self-compassion and reductions in negative emotional states, suggesting that online MSC training with peer support can be a viable method for promoting mental health in nonclinical populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of Mindful Self-Compassion Training Supported by Online Peer Groups in China: A Pilot Study. Yeung, A., Xie, Q., Huang, X., et al.[2023]

The positive and negative subscales of the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) are fundamentally different, with positive subscales linked to healthy coping and functioning, while negative subscales correlate with mental health issues and maladaptive coping strategies, as shown in a study involving psychologists and psychology students.

In a survey of non-clinical adolescents, positive SCS subscales were associated with lower anxiety and depression symptoms, while negative subscales were strongly linked to higher symptoms, suggesting that using a total SCS score may misrepresent the relationship between self-compassion and mental health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Good and Bad Sides of Self-Compassion: A Face Validity Check of the Self-Compassion Scale and an Investigation of its Relations to Coping and Emotional Symptoms in Non-Clinical Adolescents. Muris, P., van den Broek, M., Otgaar, H., et al.[2020]

Higher self-compassion is significantly associated with lower levels of anxiety (r = -0.49) and depression (r = -0.50) in youth aged 14-24, based on a systematic review of 50 studies.

Self-compassion interventions show promise in reducing anxiety and depression symptoms among young people, with a preference for treatments that focus on decreasing self-criticism rather than solely increasing self-kindness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Review of Self-Compassion as an Active Ingredient in the Prevention and Treatment of Anxiety and Depression in Young People. Egan, SJ., Rees, CS., Delalande, J., et al.[2023]

References

1. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) on Symptom Change, Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, and Rumination in Clients With Depression, Anxiety, and Stress. [2020]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Self-compassion in clinical practice. [2013]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Self-Compassion and Parenting in Mothers and Fathers with Depression. [2020]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Compassionate Mind Training: An 8-week group for the general public. [2021]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The transdiagnostic phenomenon of self-criticism. [2019]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parent Self-Compassion and Supportive Responses to Child Difficult Emotion: An Intergenerational Theoretical Model Rooted in Attachment. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of Mindful Self-Compassion Training Supported by Online Peer Groups in China: A Pilot Study. [2023]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Good and Bad Sides of Self-Compassion: A Face Validity Check of the Self-Compassion Scale and an Investigation of its Relations to Coping and Emotional Symptoms in Non-Clinical Adolescents. [2020]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Review of Self-Compassion as an Active Ingredient in the Prevention and Treatment of Anxiety and Depression in Young People. [2023]