Trial Outcomes & Findings for Self-compassion Therapist-led Online Group Treatment for Adolescents With Distress, Anxiety, and Depression (NCT NCT05448014)

Last Updated: 2025-05-30

Results Overview

The 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) measures perceived stress related to unpredictability, uncontrollability, and overload in daily life. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale from 0 (never) to 4 (very often), yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 40. Higher scores indicate higher levels of perceived stress. In this study, the total score was used for analysis.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

Target enrollment

42 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

8 weeks

Results posted on

2025-05-30

Participant Flow

Dates: 1 June 2022- 1 dec 2023 Types of location: The current study was promoted to young people via social media, flyers, and direct outreach by project staff or personnel at schools and primary care health centers in northern Sweden.

N = 85 were assessed for eligibility. Excluded/not eligible (n = 43) 1. Did not meet inclusion criteria (e.g. symptoms, age; n = 15) 2. Severe condition (n = 6) 3. Other treatment (n = 2) 4. Drop out practical reasons (n = 10) 5. Withdrew unknown reason (n = 10)

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure	CFT Group Intervention Compassion Focused Therapy in Group on the internet	Control Group Waiting list for Compassion Focused Therapy
Overall Study STARTED	22	20
Overall Study COMPLETED	18	13
Overall Study NOT COMPLETED	4	7

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Self-compassion Therapist-led Online Group Treatment for Adolescents With Distress, Anxiety, and Depression

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure	CFT Group Intervention n=22 Participants Compassion Focused Therapy in Group on the internet	Control Group n=20 Participants Waiting list for Compassion focused therapy	Total n=42 Participants Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous	17.1 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.8 • n=5 Participants	17.4 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.7 • n=7 Participants	17.2 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.7 • n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male Female	21 Participants n=5 Participants	17 Participants n=7 Participants	38 Participants n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male Male	1 Participants n=5 Participants	3 Participants n=7 Participants	4 Participants n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Hispanic or Latino	0 Participants n=5 Participants	0 Participants n=7 Participants	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Not Hispanic or Latino	0 Participants n=5 Participants	0 Participants n=7 Participants	0 Participants n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Unknown or Not Reported	22 Participants n=5 Participants	20 Participants n=7 Participants	42 Participants n=5 Participants
Perceived Stress Questionnaire	25.35 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.67 • n=5 Participants	21.87 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.89 • n=7 Participants	23.61 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.28 • n=5 Participants
The subscale Anxiety in Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children	9.37 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.98 • n=5 Participants	6.31 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.00 • n=7 Participants	7.84 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.99 • n=5 Participants
The subscale Depression in Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children	10.05 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.26 • n=5 Participants	8.19 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.10 • n=7 Participants	9.12 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.68 • n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 8 weeks

Population: Difference is due to drop out.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	CFT Group Intervention n=15 Participants Compassion Focused Therapy in Group on the internet	Control Group n=13 Participants Waiting list
Perceived Stress Scale	22.73 units on a scale Standard Deviation 3.84	20.85 units on a scale Standard Deviation 5.83

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 8- weeks

Population: Difference is due to drop out.

The Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC), Anxiety Subscale, measures trauma-related anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents. The subscale includes 9 items rated on a 4-point scale from 0 (never) to 3 (almost all the time). Total scores range from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating more severe anxiety symptoms.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	CFT Group Intervention n=15 Participants Compassion Focused Therapy in Group on the internet	Control Group n=13 Participants Waiting list
The Subscale Anxiety in Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children	10.87 units on a scale Standard Deviation 4.96	6.15 units on a scale Standard Deviation 3.93

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 8 weeks

Population: Difference is due to drop out.

The Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC), Depression Subscale, measures trauma-related depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. The subscale includes 9 items rated on a 4-point scale from 0 (never) to 3 (almost all the time). Total scores range from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure	CFT Group Intervention n=15 Participants Compassion Focused Therapy in Group on the internet	Control Group n=13 Participants Waiting list
The Subscale Depression in Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children	11.33 units on a scale Standard Deviation 3.64	7.31 units on a scale Standard Deviation 3.43

Adverse Events

CFT Group Intervention

Serious events: 0 serious events

Other events: 0 other events

Deaths: 0 deaths

Control Group

Serious events: 0 serious events

Other events: 0 other events

Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Inga Dennhag, Associate Professor

Umeå University

Phone: +46706217414

Email: [email protected]

Results disclosure agreements

Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
Publication restrictions are in place