Internet-based group compassion-focused therapy for Swedish young people with stress, anxiety and depression: a pilot waitlist randomized controlled trial
IntroductionCompassion-focused therapy (CFT) has shown promising outcomes for young people, but research on CFT for this population remains limited. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a seven-session, therapist-led, internet-based group CFT for young people, and to inve...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1547046/full |
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| author | Magnus Vestin Linda Wallin Matilda Naesström Ida Blomqvist Carl Göran Svedin Elaine Beaumont Jussi Jokinen Jussi Jokinen Inga Dennhag |
| author_facet | Magnus Vestin Linda Wallin Matilda Naesström Ida Blomqvist Carl Göran Svedin Elaine Beaumont Jussi Jokinen Jussi Jokinen Inga Dennhag |
| author_sort | Magnus Vestin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionCompassion-focused therapy (CFT) has shown promising outcomes for young people, but research on CFT for this population remains limited. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a seven-session, therapist-led, internet-based group CFT for young people, and to investigate its preliminary effects.MethodsA two-arm pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted. The study included 42 participants (aged 15–20), experiencing mild to moderate stress, anxiety, or depression, most of whom (90%) were female. In the intervention group, 22 participants were included in the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05448014).ResultsThe intervention group had low attrition and moderate attendance, with 77% completing four or more modules. No adverse events were reported, and participants generally expressed satisfaction with the intervention. Linear regression models showed preliminary between-group differences in two variables. Depressive symptoms increased post-intervention for individuals in the intervention group compared to the waitlist (WL) group (p = 0.002). Self-compassion improved in the intervention group (p = 0.023). These patterns were consistent among participants who completed more than two sessions. Within-group analyses indicated moderate, significant improvements in stress, self-compassion and compassion from others.DiscussionThese preliminary results suggest that CFT is feasible and acceptable and may offer benefits for young people, particularly by enhancing self-compassion and compassion for others. The observed increase in depressive symptoms in the intervention group, despite improvements in self-compassion, warrants further investigation. Larger studies are needed to confirm these preliminary results and to better understand the underlying mechanisms. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c09a5f7a19e246dcbf4189b8a6a1d4de |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-c09a5f7a19e246dcbf4189b8a6a1d4de2025-08-20T03:44:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-04-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.15470461547046Internet-based group compassion-focused therapy for Swedish young people with stress, anxiety and depression: a pilot waitlist randomized controlled trialMagnus Vestin0Linda Wallin1Matilda Naesström2Ida Blomqvist3Carl Göran Svedin4Elaine Beaumont5Jussi Jokinen6Jussi Jokinen7Inga Dennhag8Department of Clinical Science, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Clinical Science, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Clinical Sciences/Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Clinical Science, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Social Sciences, Marie Cederschiöld University, Stockholm, SwedenSchool of Health and Society, University of Salford, Salford, United KingdomDepartment of Clinical Sciences/Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, SwedenDepartment of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, SwedenDepartment of Clinical Science, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Umeå University, Umeå, SwedenIntroductionCompassion-focused therapy (CFT) has shown promising outcomes for young people, but research on CFT for this population remains limited. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a seven-session, therapist-led, internet-based group CFT for young people, and to investigate its preliminary effects.MethodsA two-arm pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted. The study included 42 participants (aged 15–20), experiencing mild to moderate stress, anxiety, or depression, most of whom (90%) were female. In the intervention group, 22 participants were included in the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05448014).ResultsThe intervention group had low attrition and moderate attendance, with 77% completing four or more modules. No adverse events were reported, and participants generally expressed satisfaction with the intervention. Linear regression models showed preliminary between-group differences in two variables. Depressive symptoms increased post-intervention for individuals in the intervention group compared to the waitlist (WL) group (p = 0.002). Self-compassion improved in the intervention group (p = 0.023). These patterns were consistent among participants who completed more than two sessions. Within-group analyses indicated moderate, significant improvements in stress, self-compassion and compassion from others.DiscussionThese preliminary results suggest that CFT is feasible and acceptable and may offer benefits for young people, particularly by enhancing self-compassion and compassion for others. The observed increase in depressive symptoms in the intervention group, despite improvements in self-compassion, warrants further investigation. Larger studies are needed to confirm these preliminary results and to better understand the underlying mechanisms.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1547046/fullcompassionyoung peoplestressrandomized controlled trial (RCT)group psychotherapyinternet-based psychotherapy |
| spellingShingle | Magnus Vestin Linda Wallin Matilda Naesström Ida Blomqvist Carl Göran Svedin Elaine Beaumont Jussi Jokinen Jussi Jokinen Inga Dennhag Internet-based group compassion-focused therapy for Swedish young people with stress, anxiety and depression: a pilot waitlist randomized controlled trial Frontiers in Psychology compassion young people stress randomized controlled trial (RCT) group psychotherapy internet-based psychotherapy |
| title | Internet-based group compassion-focused therapy for Swedish young people with stress, anxiety and depression: a pilot waitlist randomized controlled trial |
| title_full | Internet-based group compassion-focused therapy for Swedish young people with stress, anxiety and depression: a pilot waitlist randomized controlled trial |
| title_fullStr | Internet-based group compassion-focused therapy for Swedish young people with stress, anxiety and depression: a pilot waitlist randomized controlled trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Internet-based group compassion-focused therapy for Swedish young people with stress, anxiety and depression: a pilot waitlist randomized controlled trial |
| title_short | Internet-based group compassion-focused therapy for Swedish young people with stress, anxiety and depression: a pilot waitlist randomized controlled trial |
| title_sort | internet based group compassion focused therapy for swedish young people with stress anxiety and depression a pilot waitlist randomized controlled trial |
| topic | compassion young people stress randomized controlled trial (RCT) group psychotherapy internet-based psychotherapy |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1547046/full |
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