Patients with anxiety, mood disorders lack self-

compassion

Patients with anxiety and mood disorders — especially generalized anxiety

disorder and major depressive disorder — had lower levels of self-compassion,
according to findings presented at the Anxiety and Depression Association of
America annual conference.

“Research shows that self-criticism and shame are implicated in anxiety and
mood disorders and stigma,” Ricks Warren, PhD, ABPP, clinical associate professor
of psychiatry at University of Michigan, told Healio Psychiatry. Prior evidence has
demonstrated that self-criticism is a risk factor for psychopathology that may impede
treatment of anxiety and mood disorders, whereas self-compassion is a robust
resilience factor for offsetting self-criticism, according to the presentation abstract.
“Our research compared levels of self-compassion in a group of patients seeking
treatment for anxiety and mood disorders, so we could find out in which disorders
low self-compassion is most present,” Warren said. “Findings can inform treatments
so that low self-compassion, self-criticism and shame can be effectively addressed.”
The researchers compared self-compassion across anxiety and mood disorders in
patients seeking treatment at a university-based community clinic. During treatment,
patients completed the Self-Compassion Scale. The investigators determined
primary DSM-IV diagnoses via clinical interview. In total, 69 participants had
generalized anxiety disorder, 43 had anxiety disorder not otherwise specified, 30 had
MDD and 42 had other anxiety or mood disorders.

After comparing the groups, the researchers found a marginally significant

difference in total scores for self-compassion in patients with major depression (M =
2.1; SD = 0.63) and those with anxiety disorders (M = 2.36; SD = 0.66). Self-
compassion scores were not significantly different in patients with generalized
anxiety disorder and those with major depression, according to the results. Both
indicated below average scores which were significantly lower than patients with
anxiety disorder not otherwise specified who showed scores in the moderate range.
“Clinicians, no matter what condition they are treating, should look for the presence
of these self-denigrating conditions and target them in their treatments, likely
leading to more effective treatments,” Warren told Healio Psychiatry. Future
research should examine the importance of including self-compassion in
interventions for anxiety and mood disorders, according to the abstract. – by
Savannah Demko

Reference:

Warren R. Self-compassion: A comparison of GAD, other anxiety disorders and MDD. Presented
at: The Anxiety and Depression Association of America Annual Conference; March 28-31, 2019; Chicago.