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Title: | A compassionate imagery intervention for patients with persecutory delusions |
Authors: | Forkert, Ava Freeman, Daniel Waite, Felicity |
Keywords: | Persecutory Delusions Psychosis Schizophrenia |
Issue Date: | Jun-2021 |
Citation: | Forkert, A., Brown, P., Freeman, D., & Waite, F. (2021). A compassionate imagery intervention for patients with persecutory delusions. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 1-13. |
Abstract: | 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. |
Description: | This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
URI: | https://oxfordhealth-nhs.archive.knowledgearc.net/handle/123456789/879 |
Appears in Collections: | Schizophrenia and Psychotic Disorders |
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a-compassionate-imagery-intervention-for-patients-with-persecutory-delusions.pdf | Main article | 234.12 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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