The effectiveness of compassion-based therapy on self-criticism, depression, and health anxiety in patients with type 2 diabetes

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of compassion-based therapy on self-criticism, depression, and health anxiety in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Methods: This study is a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test, post-test, and control and experimental groups. The statistical population includes all patients with type 2 diabetes referred to Imam Reza and Ghaem hospitals in Mashhad in 1404. 27 people (14 experimental and 13 control) were selected using the convenience sampling method based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The research instruments included the Self-Criticism and Self-Assurance Scale (FSCRS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), and the Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI). The experimental group received compassion-based therapy based on Gilbert's (2014) perspective in 8 90-minute sessions, 2 days a week. The data were analyzed using univariate analysis of covariance.
Results: The results showed that after controlling for the pre-test effect, there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the variables of self-criticism, depression, and health anxiety (p≤0.05). Also, the difference in pre-test-post-test scores in the experimental group was significant for the variables of self-criticism, depression, and health anxiety (p≤0.05).
Conclusion: It can be said that compassion-based therapy can help improve the psychological state of patients with type 2 diabetes by reducing self-criticism, depression, and health anxiety. Therefore, using this therapeutic approach along with medical interventions can be considered as an effective method for improving the mental health of diabetic patients.