Self-compassion and fear of self-compassion interact to predict response to eating disorders treatment: a preliminary investigation.
Gilbert (2005) proposed that the capacity for self-compassion is integral to overcoming shame and psychopathology. We tested this model among 74 individuals with an eating disorder admitted to specialized treatment. Participants completed measures assessing self-compassion, fear of self-compassion, shame, and eating disorder symptoms at admission and every 3 weeks during treatment. At baseline, lower self-compassion and higher fear of self-compassion were associated with more shame and eating disorder pathology. Multilevel modeling also revealed that patients with combinations of low self-compassion and high fear of self-compassion at baseline had significantly poorer treatment responses, showing no significant change in shame or eating disorder symptoms over 12 weeks. Results highlight a new subset of treatment-resistant eating disorder patients.
Department of Psychiatry, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M4J 3L5, Canada. allison.kelly@gmail.com
Allison C
AC
Kelly
Jacqueline C
JC
Carter
David C
DC
Zuroff
Sahar
S
Borairi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D012649:Self Concept; D012752:Shame; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult