The evaluation of a compassion- focused therapy group for women victims of Gender-Based Violence.

INTRODUCTION Gender-Based Violence (GBV) can lead to many negative outcomes for women who experience it and it’s related to a host of negative mental and physical health symptoms (Black et al., 2011). Women victims of GBV report high levels of shame, guilt and self-blame, in particular following chronic abuse (Kubany et al. 1996; Karakurt et al. 2014), so they need interventions aimed at the processes that maintain emotional disorders. Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) was designed with the express purpose of helping people with high levels of self-criticism and shame (Gilbert, 2005a; 2005b; 2009) and is the only compassion intervention specifically designed for clinical populations (Gilbert, 2014). This study explored how CFT influenced self-criticism and negative emotions, as well as the general symptoms of anxiety and depression and the level of the personal well-being of a group of women who were victims of GBV. METHODS This study utilized a mixed method combining qualitative and quantitative methods to support a programme evaluation. Ten women victims of gender violence were randomized to the two groups of experimental and of sexual violence, SCL-90-R (Derogatis, 1994), SCS - Self-Compassion Scale (Neff, 2016) and PWB - Personal Well Being (Ryff, 1989) as pre-test measures. The experimental group received six sessions of CFT, while the controls received no treatment. Subsequently, all subjects responded to the SCL-90-R, SCS, and PWB questionnaires as post-test measures. RESULTS There was a significant improvement in the mean scores obtained after the CFT sessions compared to the pre-test. This 12-week group therapy was associated with significant reductions in self-criticism (t= -2.582**) and common humanity (t= -2.989***) as measured by SCS and an increase in self-kindness (Pre-Test= 13.80; Post-Test= 14.50). The anxious (t= -2.942***) and depressive (t= -2.598***) symptoms measured by the SCL-90-R decreased. Significant changes occurred on all variables related to personal well-being (Pre-Test= 38.40; Post-Test= 39.20) and overall functioning and perception of problems. A content analysis revealed that patients found it a moving and highly significant process in their efforts to develop emotional regulation (Pre-Test= 40.30; Post-Test= 41.80) and self-understanding. DISCUSSION Subjects of the experimental group indicated a greater reduction in post-test scores of experiential avoidance, and a significant rise in the level of meaning-in-life and its subscales including the presence of meaning- in-life and search for meaning-in-life when compared to the controls. CONCLUSION This study exploring the feasibility, acceptability, and potential value of CFT in treating this difficult population. The application of the CFT can lead to the reduction of self-criticism and consequent “secondary victimization” and the increase in the meaning of life in women victims of gender violence. CFT is highly recommended to strengthen patient’ well-being and reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms that arise after the traumatic experience.