Compassionate mind training for ex‐service personnel with PTSD and their partners.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a significant issue for a substantial proportion of Australian ex‐service personnel. In addition to the functional impact on individuals, PTSD can have a significant impact on intimate partner relationships. Research has demonstrated that practicing compassion and self‐compassion may be an important component of psychological therapy for survivors of trauma, while also demonstrating benefits to intimate relationships. This pilot study aimed to investigate the utility of a Compassionate Mind Training intervention for ex‐service personnel with PTSD and their partners. An uncontrolled, within‐subjects, longitudinal design was utilized with assessment at pre‐intervention, post‐intervention and 3‐month follow‐up. Twenty‐four participants attended 12 biweekly group sessions. Self‐report measures of compassion, quality of life and psychological symptoms were administered at each time point. Findings demonstrated a significant reduction in fears of compassion and PTSD symptoms for ex‐service personnel at 3‐month follow‐up and a reduction in depressive symptoms and increase in quality‐of‐life and social safeness at post‐intervention. Additionally, significant reductions in anxiety, stress, external shame and self‐criticism at 3‐month follow‐up were found, and couples reported significant increases in relationship satisfaction. Findings from this pilot study demonstrate promising outcomes, warranting further investigation in a larger randomized controlled trial of Compassionate Mind Training for ex‐service personnel and their partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]