Self-compassion as a mechanism of change in patients with eating disorders and childhood trauma receiving CFT-E; a study of within-person processes

Abstract

Objective: This study examines the reciprocal relationship between self-compassion and eating disorder (ED) and trauma symptoms for patients receiving compassion- focused therapy for eating disorders (CFT-E). Method: A total of thirty-six patients with EDs and childhood trauma received inpatient treatment over 13 weeks. Levels of self-compassion and symptoms were assessed using repeated measures. A multilevel growth model was applied, and the effects of self-compassion and symptoms were separated into between- and within-patient effects. Results: The results show that ED symptoms did decrease significantly during treatment. Furthermore, the analyses demonstrated a reciprocal between-patient relationship between self-compassion and ED symptoms, and between self-compassion and trauma symptoms. However, regarding within-patient effects, only self-compassion predicted trauma symptoms. Discussion: The outcome of the current study demonstrates a favourable course for patients with EDs and childhood trauma receiving CFT-E in an inpatient facility. While there is a reciprocal relationship between the variables, the within-patient analyses imply the role of self-compassion in the therapy process for trauma symptoms.