Exploring barriers to compassionate imagery (Version 2)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Descriptive study examining correlates of compassionate imagery ability in personality disorder
IRAS ID
171656
Contact name
Janet Feigenbaum
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
15/0104, Sponsor reference number
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 16 days
Research summary
This study explores the difficulties that people with personality disorder may have in generating compassionate imagery. Compassionate imagery (imagining a person feeling compassion for you) is a core aspect of Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), which aims to alleviate distress through reducing shame and self-criticism. CFT is a promising treatment for personality disorder, since this is associated with high shame and self-criticism. Currently the evidence for CFT in personality disorder is limited but favourable.
This study will investigate whether early experiences (trauma, parental warmth, and invalidation) and current experiences (relationship quality, self-criticism, shame, distress, and fear of compassion) are associated with difficulties in generating compassionate images. This will enable CFT interventions for personality disorder to be tailored to difficulties that clients may face with them.
Furthermore, we will investigate whether practicing compassionate imagery daily for a week increases self-compassion in this population. Previous studies have examined effectiveness of the whole intervention but not this isolated component.
Participants must be English-speaking adults with a diagnosis of personality disorder. Exclusion criteria include Schizoid or Antisocial Personality Disorder, florid psychosis, and learning disability. Participants will be recruited from IMPART Personality Disorder Service, and other personality disorder services in Greater London if necessary. We aim for a sample of 100 participants.
Participation involves attending a 1.5 hour group testing session at their service (maximum 10 participants, with 2 facilitators). Participants will complete questionnaires on early and current experiences; practice imagery exercises; and report on their experiences through questionnaires and a focus group. Before some imagery exercises, participants will be asked to recall sad memories; this allows us to study whether distress blocks self-compassion. Participants are then asked to practice the 10-minute exercises twice-daily for a week. Finally they are emailed a 10-minute questionnaire to report on their experiences during the week.
REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/0747
Date of REC Opinion
22 May 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion