title: A pilot feasibility study exploring the practising of compassionate imagery exercises in a nonclinical population.
abstract: This study assessed the acceptability of practising compassionate imagery as an online task without clinician support. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline, after, and 6 months of follow-up. Participants engaged safely and successfully with the tasks. There were significant improvements in questionnaire scores which were largely maintained over 6 months.
  
  
  
  People can practise compassionate imagery tasks in an unsupervised way from online recordings and not suffer adverse effects (even with higher baseline scores in self-criticism). Compassionate imagery recordings may be used as an adjunct to improve traditional psychotherapy.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Cardiff University, UK.
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McEwan
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Research Unit, Kingsway Hospital, Derby, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gilbert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D004645:Empathy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012647:Self-Assessment; D013334:Students; D006113:United Kingdom; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: compassion; depression; imagery; self-criticism