The Effect of Compassionate Mind Training on Depression and Anger rumination in Students with Depression Symptoms

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of compassionate mind training on depression and anger rumination in students with depression symptoms. This study employed a semi-experimental method and used a pre-test, post-test design with experimental and control groups. The statistical population consisted of 315 female students with mood disorders that were referred to the counseling center of Bu-Ali Sina University in 2016-2017. Through screening, 78 students were identified with depression syndrome (scored above 20 in Beck Depression Inventory); among them, 30 subjects were randomly selected and placed in two experimental and control groups of 15. The experimental group received 8 sessions of 90 minutes Compassionate Mind training twice a week and the control group was given no intervention. The tools of this study were anger rumination scale (Sukhodolsky, et al), and Beck depression inventory (Beck, et al). Results of covariance analysis showed that compassionate mind training decreased depression but there was no statistically significant reduction in anger rumination scores. Therefore, compassionate mind training can be used as effective method to decrease depression symptoms in students.