The effects of a combination of cognitive interventions and loving-kindness meditations (C-METTA) on guilt, shame and PTSD symptoms: results from a pilot randomized controlled trial.
Meike Müller-Engelmann, Luisa Bahnemann, Stella Kümmerle
European journal of psychotraumatology January 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2024.2308439 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAn intervention combining cognitive techniques with loving-kindness meditations (C-METTA) reduced PTSD symptoms, trauma-related guilt, and trauma-related shame more than a wait-list condition in a small randomized trial of 32 trauma-exposed patients. The effects were large: PTSD symptoms (d = -1.09), guilt (d = -2.85), and shame (d = -2.14) all showed greater reductions with C-METTA, along with improvements in general psychopathology and self-criticism. The intervention consisted of six weekly individual sessions followed by a four-week practice phase. These results suggest C-METTA may offer improved care for patients with stress-related disorders.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized wait-list controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 32 |
| Population | Trauma-exposed patients with a DSM-5 diagnosis of PTSD |
| Duration | Six weekly individual treatment sessions followed by a four-week practice phase |
| Topics | PTSD |
| Keywords | Intervenciones cognitivas Tept Cognitive interventions Loving-kindness meditation |
| Citations | 5 |
| Key finding | C-METTA produced greater reductions than a wait-list condition in clinician-rated PTSD symptoms, trauma-related guilt, and trauma-related shame. |
Abstract
Background: Trauma-related guilt and shame are crucial for the development and maintenance of PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder). We developed an intervention combining cognitive techniques with loving-kindness meditations (C-METTA) that specifically target these emotions. C-METTA is an intervention of six weekly individual treatment sessions followed by a four-week practice phase.Objective: This study examined C-METTA in a proof-of-concept study within a randomized wait-list controlled trial.Method: We randomly assigned 32 trauma-exposed patients with a DSM-5 diagnosis to C-METTA or a wait-list condition (WL). Primary outcomes were clinician-rated PTSD symptoms (CAPS-5) and trauma-related guilt and shame. Secondary outcomes included psychopathology, self-criticism, well-being, and self-compassion. Outcomes were assessed before the intervention phase and after the practice phase.Results: Mixed-design analyses showed greater reductions in C-METTA versus WL in clinician-rated PTSD symptoms (d = -1.09), guilt (d = -2.85), shame (d = -2.14), psychopathology and self-criticism.Conclusion: Our findings support positive outcomes of C-METTA and might contribute to improved care for patients with stress-related disorders. The study was registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00023470).