The effectiveness of cognitive self-compassion training on the dimensions of fatigue, self-criticism and emotional avoidance in patients with multiple sclerosis

This study was conducted with the aim of the effectiveness of cognitive self-compassion training on the dimensions of fatigue, self-criticism and emotional avoidance in patients with multiple sclerosis. The present study was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design and follow-up (2 months). Subjects with an age range of 20-40 years and with a scale of physical disability (EDSS) 1 to 5.5 and purposefully selected and randomly divided into experimental group (cognitive self-compassion training) and control. Both groups answered Fisk (1994), Thompson & Zuroff (2004) levels of self criticism scale (2004) and Kennedy (2015) Emotional Avoidance Scale in the pre-test-post-test and 2-month follow-up stages. The experimental group received 10 sessions of cognitive self-compassion training once a week for 1.5 hours. The collected data were analyzed using mixed analysis of covariance with repeated measures. The results of covariance analysis mixed with repeated measures showed that cognitive self-compassion training is effective in reducing the dimensions of fatigue, self-criticism and emotional avoidance in patients with multiple sclerosis. Also, the effects of the intervention were maintained after 2 months of follow-up on reducing the scores of fatigue, self-criticism and emotional avoidance. Based on the results of this study, cognitive self-compassion training can be used along with drug interventions to reduce fatigue, self-criticism and avoid emotional experiences of multiple sclerosis patients in medical centers.