Fiona Donald1, Katherine A Lawrence2, Jillian H Broadbear3, Sathya Rao4. 1. Clinician/Psychologist, Spectrum Statewide Service for Personality Disorder, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. 2. Senior Lecturer/Clinical Psychologist, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. 3. Senior Research Fellow, Spectrum Statewide Service for Personality Disorder, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. 4. Executive Clinical Director, Spectrum Statewide Service for Personality Disorder, Melbourne, VIC, and Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor, Monash University, Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: : A lack of compassion for oneself, or harsh self-criticism, is associated with a range of psychiatric disorders including borderline personality disorder (BPD). Personal recovery in the context of a mental illness such as BPD involves building a life that is subjectively meaningful and satisfying. Limited self-compassion or harsh self-criticism may be an impediment to recovery from BPD. The association between self-compassion and recovery and self- criticism and recovery were examined. METHOD: : Nineteen individuals diagnosed with BPD completed the Neff Self-Compassion Scale, the Forms of Self-Criticising/Attacking and Self-Reassuring Scale and the Recovery Assessment Scale at a single time point. RESULTS: : There was a strong positive correlation between self-compassion and recovery ( r = 0.75) and a strong negative correlation ( rho = -0.67) between self- criticism and recovery. CONCLUSIONS: : Although preliminary in nature, these results suggest the importance of fostering self-compassion and working to address self-criticism within clinical interventions supporting recovery from BPD.
OBJECTIVES: : A lack of compassion for oneself, or harsh self-criticism, is associated with a range of psychiatric disorders including borderline personality disorder (BPD). Personal recovery in the context of a mental illness such as BPD involves building a life that is subjectively meaningful and satisfying. Limited self-compassion or harsh self-criticism may be an impediment to recovery from BPD. The association between self-compassion and recovery and self- criticism and recovery were examined. METHOD: : Nineteen individuals diagnosed with BPD completed the Neff Self-Compassion Scale, the Forms of Self-Criticising/Attacking and Self-Reassuring Scale and the Recovery Assessment Scale at a single time point. RESULTS: : There was a strong positive correlation between self-compassion and recovery ( r = 0.75) and a strong negative correlation ( rho = -0.67) between self- criticism and recovery. CONCLUSIONS: : Although preliminary in nature, these results suggest the importance of fostering self-compassion and working to address self-criticism within clinical interventions supporting recovery from BPD.