Compassion focused therapy: a systematic review of its effectiveness and acceptability in clinical populations
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Introduction: Compassion focused therapy (CFT) is an increasingly popular therapeutic modality. Its holistic and integrative approach to universal human suffering means that it is well placed as a transdiagnostic therapy. Research into its effectiveness and acceptability has increased over the previous 10 years as the therapy has evolved, and to help consider its status as an evidence-based therapy research concerning its treatment outcomes needs evaluating.Areas covered: This paper reviews research investigating the effectiveness of CFT in clinical populations.Expert opinion: CFT shows promise for a range of mental health problems, especially when delivered in a group format over at least 12 hours. This is important for funding bodies and commissioning groups to consider as they allocate healthcare resources in light of current evidence-based practice. CFT is demonstrably well accepted by clients and clinicians and there is now a clear need for an updated, universally deployed, standard manual to direct future research. This will be critical in enabling widespread implementation and further adoption into mainstream clinical practice, will address the lack of standardization in the current research, and pave the way for further randomized control trials aimed at reducing existing methodological limitations.
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A systematic review found that the efficacy of CFT was associated with the number of treatment sessions, with minimally 12 sessions required to achieve positive change across various populations.
“A systematic review published after initiation of the present study found that the efficacy of CFT was asso ciated with the number of treatment sessions, namely that minimally 12 sessions seemed to be required to achieve positive change across various populations (Craig et al., 2020).”
From Group-based compassion-focused therapy for prolonged grief symptoms in adults – Results from a randomized controlled trial (2022) · cites this paper as Craig et al., 2020
The Abstract says at least 12 sessions are required to significantly reduce clinical symptoms across populations. But §3.4 reports positive effects from interventions lasting less than nine hours, and §4.6 says brief CFT may reduce symptoms. The review supports the 12-session threshold for significant change, not for any positive change. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredCFT appears efficacious in treating a range of clinical populations, although existing studies vary considerably in study quality and intervention content and format.
“This growing body of literature has been synthesized in several systematic reviews, which generally conclude that CFT appears efficacious in treating a range of clinical populations, although the existing studies vary considerably in terms of study quality and content of the therapeutic intervention and -format (Beaumont and Martin, 2015; Craig et al., 2020; Leaviss and Uttley, 2015).”
From Group-based compassion-focused therapy for prolonged grief symptoms in adults – Results from a randomized controlled trial (2022) · cites this paper as Craig et al., 2020
Craig et al. (2020) found more empirical support for group-based CFT compared to individually delivered CFT.
“Craig et al. (2020) also found more empirical support for group-based CFT compared to individually delivered CFT.”
From Group-based compassion-focused therapy for prolonged grief symptoms in adults – Results from a randomized controlled trial (2022) · cites this paper as Craig et al., 2020
This service evaluation utilised a mixed methods approach which provided rich and useful insight into clients' experiences of the CMT group intervention, strengthening the overall evaluation.
“Despite the limitations, this service evaluation utilised a mixed methods approach which provided rich and useful insight into clients' experiences of the CMT group intervention, strengthening the overall evaluation (Craig et al. 2020; NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement 2005).”
From A Mixed Methods Evaluation of a Compassionate Mind Training Group Intervention for Adults in a Primary Mental Health Service. (2026) · cites this paper as Craig et al. 2020
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- Authors
- Craig, C., Hiskey, S., & Spector, A.
- Affiliations
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- Oaks Hospital (GB)
- University College London (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Craig, Catriona
- Venue
- Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2020-04-02
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 385-400
- ISSN
- 1473-7175 (ISSN-L)
- 1744-8360
- OpenAlex
- W3011072785
- Cited by
- 201
- References
- 58
- Citations by year
- 2026: 29 · 2025: 36 · 2024: 37 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 35 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 3
- FWCI
- 1.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- discovery.ucl.ac.uk
- Locations
- Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
- Keywords
- compassion-focused therapy, treatment effectiveness, acceptability, transdiagnostic treatment, group therapy, mental illness, evidence-based practice, healthcare resource allocation
- MeSH terms
- Empathy, Humans, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Psychotherapy, Outcome Assessment, Health Care
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