Mindful Self-compassion for Anxiety and Depression: Impact of Delivery Method

Launched by GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY · Jun 11, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how different ways of delivering an 8-week Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program affect symptoms of anxiety and depression. MSC is a type of training that helps people be kinder to themselves and manage difficult feelings. The study compares doing the program in person versus joining through video calls to see which method works better for people diagnosed with anxiety disorders (like social anxiety, generalized anxiety, panic disorder, or agoraphobia) or depression.

To take part, you need to have one of these anxiety or depression conditions and show low levels of self-compassion, meaning you might be hard on yourself in stressful times. Participants should be willing to attend all sessions and follow the study steps. Some people won’t be eligible, including those with other serious mental health conditions, recent substance problems, or those currently starting new therapy for anxiety. If you join, you’ll complete tests and attend the 8 weekly sessions either in person or online. The goal is to see how the way the program is delivered affects improvements in anxiety and depression symptoms, helping future treatments be more accessible and effective.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Must have a primary anxiety disorder (social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or agoraphobia) or major depressive disorder, current
• • Must score low on self-compassion, as measured by the self-compassion scale
• • Must understand study procedure and willing to participate in all testing visits, and treatment as assigned
• • Must be able to give informed consent to the study procedures
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Comorbid psychiatric disorder other than anxiety or depression, such as psychotic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorders (i.e., anorexia and bulimia), bipolar disorder; developmental or organic mental disorders; and current (past 6 months) substance use disorders and current post-traumatic stress disorder as assessed by clinician at screening visit
• • A serious medical condition that may result in surgery or hospitalization.
• • A history of head trauma causing prolonged loss of consciousness, or ongoing cognitive impairment
• • Inability to understand study procedures or informed consent process, or significant personality dysfunction likely to interfere with study participation (assessed during the clinical interview).
• • Subjects who will be non-compliant with the study procedures. This may include planned travel out of town.
• • Subjects taking some psychiatric medication such as barbiturates or antipsychotics. Sleep medications and some anti-depressants will be allowed, if the subject has been taken at stable dose 8 weeks prior to baseline and the patient plans to continue at the same dose through the trial.
• • Concurrent psychotherapy initiated within 1 month of screen interview, or ongoing psychotherapy of any duration directed specifically toward the treatment of anxiety (such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy).
• • Individuals who have completed a course of MSC or an equivalent meditation training in the last year.
• • Individuals reporting significant active suicidal ideation or suicidal behaviors within the past year.
• • Individuals with a medical condition (i.e., epilepsy) that may be exacerbated by study treatment, as determined by a study physician or nurse practitioner based on history, physical, and/or labs.
• • Adults unable to consent
• • Pregnant women
• • Prisoners