A survey of mindfulness and self-compassion in IAPT (08.09.2016)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An anonymous survey of mindfulness, self-compassion, wellbeing and mental health
IRAS ID
203776
Contact name
Tamara Leeuwerik
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Sussex
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 28 days
Research summary
Research into mindfulness and self-compassion has grown steadily over the last few decades. Studies have demonstrated a positive association of mindfulness and self-compassion with wellbeing and a negative association with mental health difficulties such as depression, anxiety and stress. Clinical research has established that mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) are beneficial for common mental health difficulties such as depression, anxiety and stress and achieve these positive effects by improving mindfulness and self-compassion skills and reducing worry, rumination, cognitive and emotional reactivity. Whilst this research is relatively well-established, there is a dearth of research on the association of mindfulness and self-compassion with symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Also, despite there being a plausible theoretical premise for the potential benefits of MBI for OCD, clinical research into MBI for OCD is still in its infancy. Given the important gaps in the literature, this study aims to examine the relationship of mindfulness and self-compassion with OCD symptoms, OCD-related beliefs and distress tolerance. Also, it aims to examine whether (aspects of) mindfulness and self-compassion are lower in OCD compared to depression and/or anxiety and non-clinical controls, and whether the relationship of distress tolerance and OCD-related beliefs with OCD symptoms is mediated by of mindfulness and self-compassion. To do this, a survey will be distributed to adults who have been offered treatment in primary care and to adults from a community sample. Findings will be used to enhance our understanding of the relationship of mindfulness and self-compassion with OCD and the obsessive beliefs and difficulties with distress tolerance that are thought to maintain OCD.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EE/0438
Date of REC Opinion
1 Nov 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion