The effects of Compassionate Mind Training on perceived stress, anxiety and depression in university students
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN13468533 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN13468533 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | 1 |
- Submission date
- 12/11/2022
- Registration date
- 23/11/2022
- Last edited
- 23/11/2022
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
University students report elevated levels of stress, anxiety and depression. Hence, it is important to study interventions that target stress and promote well-being in this group. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of a five-week Compassionate Mind Training compared with a five-week affect-focused training in university students on measures of stress, anxiety, depression and self-compassion.
Compassionate Mind Training and affect-focused training are both psychological programs aiming to promote mental health. Compassionate Mind Training focuses on developing self-compassion, whereas affect-focused training primarily entails psychoeducation on affects (the outward display of emotional state).
Who can participate?
Students at university (studying a minimum of 75% of full-time)
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to receive 5 weeks of either Compassionate Mind Training (intervention) or affect-focused training (active control). Compassionate Mind Training is closely based on pre-existing Compassionate Mind Training programs widely used in the UK and US. The intervention consists of psychoeducation on compassion and related concepts, as well as applied practice with different exercises. The active control group consists of an affect-focused training program. The program is based on a pre-existing Swedish affect group intervention. The intervention involves psychoeducation on primary affects and applied practice with different exercises.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
A possible benefit for the participants is that they will learn new strategies to deal with stress. A risk with participating in a psychological intervention that includes self-reflection is that it might stir up emotions that can feel overwhelming to some. The interventions were, however, delivered by psychologists (licensed/in training) that were able to provide support when needed.
Where is the study run from?
Uppsala University (Sweden)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
June 2013 to November 2015
Who is funding the study?
Skandia Advisory Board Research and Health (Sweden)
Who is the main contact?
Christina Andersson, christina.andersson@ki.se
Contact information
Scientific
Strömsön 153
Arnäsvall
891 96
Sweden
 ORCID ID |
0000-0001-9076-0406 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +46 (0)702750898 |
| christina.andersson@ki.se |
Study information
| Study design | Single-centre randomized controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study setting(s) | School |
| Study type | Treatment |
| Participant information sheet | See trial outputs table |
| Scientific title | The effects of Compassionate Mind Training on perceived stress, anxiety and depression in university students – a randomized controlled trial |
| Study objectives | It is hypothesized that the Compassionate Mind Training would have beneficial effects on perceived stress, anxiety, depression and self-compassion post-intervention compared with the active control group. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Approved 06/11/2013, The Swedish Ethical Review Authority (Etikprövningsmyndigheten, Box 2110, 750 02 Uppsala, Sweden; +46 (0)10 47508 00; registrator@etikprovning.se), ref: 2013/153231/3 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Stress in university students |
| Intervention | Participants are randomized in a 1:1 ratio using the online program random.org to receive 5 weeks of either Compassionate Mind Training (intervention) or affect-focused training (active control). Compassionate Mind Training is closely based on pre-existing Compassionate Mind Training programs widely used in the UK and US. The intervention consists of psychoeducation on compassion and related concepts, as well as applied practice with different exercises. The active control group consists of an affect-focused training program. The program is based on a pre-existing Swedish affect group intervention. The intervention involves psychoeducation on primary affects and applied practice with different exercises. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure | Perceived stress measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS14) (pre-and post) at baseline and after 5 weeks |
| Secondary outcome measures | 1. Anxiety and depression measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) (pre-and post) at baseline and after 5 weeks 2. Self-compassion measured by the Self-Compassion Short-Scale (SC-SF) (pre-and post) at baseline and after 5 weeks |
| Overall study start date | 01/06/2013 |
| Completion date | 19/11/2015 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Other |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | 120 |
| Total final enrolment | 59 |
| Key inclusion criteria | Studying at a university (minimum 75% of full-time) |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Not fluent in Swedish 2. Over 15 score on HADS |
| Date of first enrolment | 16/09/2015 |
| Date of final enrolment | 01/10/2015 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Sweden
Study participating centre
Von Kraemers allé 1
Uppsala
75105
Sweden
Sponsor information
University/education
Institutionen för klinisk neurovetenskap
Stockholm
17176
Sweden
| Phone | +46 (0)70 4530546 |
|---|---|
| walter.osika@ki.se | |
| Website | http://ki.se/en/startpage |
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/056d84691 |
Funders
Funder type
Industry
No information available
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 01/09/2023 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Planned publication in a peer-reviewed journal |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated and analysed during the current study are available upon request from Christina Andersson (christina.andersson@ki.se). The type of data that will be shared: all existing data e.g. on item level Whether consent from participants was required and obtained: Yes, informed consent was obtained. Comments on data anonymization. Each participant was given a number so the participants were coded. Any ethical or legal restrictions: No |
Editorial Notes
23/11/2022: Trial's existence confirmed by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority.
