Fostering Self‐Compassion and Loving‐Kindness in Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder: A Randomized Pilot Study
Albert Feliu-Soler, Juan Carlos Pascual, Matilde Elices, Ana Martín‐Blanco, Cristina Carmona, Ausiàs Cebolla, Vicente M. Simón, Joaquim Soler
Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy January 28, 2016 DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2000 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Patients with borderline personality disorder |
| Interventions | loving-kindness and compassion meditation mindfulness continuation training |
| Duration | 3-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Self-compassion Borderline personality disorder Kindness Psychotherapist Clinical psychology Randomized controlled trial Psychoanalysis |
| Citations | 131 |
| Key points | Three weeks of loving-kindness and compassion meditation increased acceptance and improved borderline symptoms, self-criticism, and self-kindness in patients with borderline personality disorder. |
Abstract
The aim of this randomized pilot study is to investigate the effects of a short training programme in loving-kindness and compassion meditation (LKM/CM) in patients with borderline personality disorder. Patients were allocated to LKM/CM or mindfulness continuation training (control group). Patients in the LKM/CM group showed greater changes in Acceptance compared with the control group. Remarkable changes in borderline symptomatology, self-criticism and self-kindness were also observed in the LKM/CM group. Mechanistic explanations and therapeutic implications of the findings are discussed. HIGHLIGHTS: Three weeks of loving-kindness and compassion meditations increased acceptance of the present-moment experience in patients with borderline personality disorder. Significant improvements in the severity of borderline symptoms, self-criticism, mindfulness, acceptance and self-kindness were observed after the LKM/CM intervention. LKM/CM is a promising complementary strategy for inclusion in mindfulness-based interventions and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy for treating core symptoms in borderline personality disorder. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.