Objective: To find the influences of mindfulness and self-compassion-based group therapy and compare them with standard treatment outcomes.

Materials and Methods: Prospective randomized control trial was conducted on two intervention groups (n=23 for mindfulness and self-compassion group, n=11 for the control group) for seven weeks. Depression-related parameters consisted of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) Thai version, Self-Compassion scale-Thai version (Thai-SCS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index-Thai version (Thai-PSQI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Thai version (Thai-HADS), Thai-Perceived Stress Scale-10 (T-PSS-10), Rosenberg self-esteem Thai version, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) Thai version, were collected and compared before and after both treatments.

Results: Mindfulness and self-compassion had statistically significant improvement of better depressive rating scale, anxiety, mindfulness & self-compassion, perceived stress scale, self-esteem, and quality of life (p<0.001, 0.001, 0.002, <0.001, 0.005 and <0.001, respectively). Depressive level, anxiety level, mindfulness, and self-compassion, perceived stress scale, self-esteem, and quality of life in both groups were also improved. Nonetheless, there were no significant differences when compared to the mean differences between both groups.

Conclusion: Mindfulness and self-compassion intervention improved depression, anxiety, stress, self-esteem, and quality of life.

Keywords: Mindfulness and self-compassion therapy, Group psychotherapy, Depression, Thai-MADRS, Thai-SCS, Thai-PSQI, Thai-HADS, T-PSS-10, Thai- WHOQOL, Thai-Rosenberg self-esteem, Thai-SCS

DOI: doi.org/10.35755/jmedassocthai.2020.09.12020

Received 5 August 2020 | Revised 15 August 2020 | Accepted 5 September 2020