Compassion-Focused Therapy for an Older Adult with Motor Functional Neurological Disorder: A Case Study 2022 Zarotti et al

ABSTRACT

Objectives
Motor functional neurological disorder (mFND) is a condition where individuals may experience difficulties such as tremors, gait impairments, and paralysis which are not explained by identified structural damage to the brain. Studies on chronic conditions have suggested that psychological interventions such as compassion-focused therapy (CFT) may be effective in improving well-being in people with mFND. However, no evidence is currently available on psychotherapy for older people with mFND.

Methods
A 12-session CFT intervention was delivered to an 81-year-old British male with mFND. Standardized measures were administered at baseline and post-intervention.

Results
At post-intervention, a 30% decrease in perceived psychological impact of mFND was found, along with clinically significant changes in anxiety and depression. Good levels of feasibility and acceptability were also observed.

Conclusions
To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of CFT for psychological difficulties linked with mFND, as well as the first evidence for any psychotherapy with an older adult with mFND.

Clinical Implications
CFT shows the potential to be effective, feasible, and acceptable for treating difficulties linked with mFND in older people. However, further high-quality investigations based on experimental designs are needed to build on the present preliminary findings.

Open access, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07317115.2022.2130124

 

Compassion-focused therapy

Compassion-focused therapy integrates techniques from:

• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
• Developmental psychology
• Evolutionary psychology
• Social psychology
• Neuroscience
• Buddhist philosophy

How does CFT work?
According to CFT theory, there are three emotion regulation functional systems that evolved throughout human history: the threat (/survival), drive (/excitement), and contentment (/social safety) systems. CFT suggests these systems remain active and influence our thoughts, emotions, actions and beliefs today.

The threat system

If we feel under threat we may experience fear, anxiety or anger. As a result of our feelings, we may exhibit particular behaviours, for example fight, flight, freeze. We may also develop cognitive biases relating to future threat stimuli i.e. jumping to the wrong conclusion, assuming the worst, avoiding potentially risky situations.

The drive system

This system directs us towards important goals; it's also the system that developed to enable us to gather resources. This forward-moving system gives us a sense of achievement and pleasure. A balanced drive system is important, people with over-active drive systems may be more likely to seek pleasurable experiences, such as substances and other addictive behaviours.

The contentment system

The contentment system is linked to feelings of calm, typically fostered by a sense of being socially connected, safe, and cared for. This soothing system regulates both the threat and drive systems.

Using CFT enhances the potential of the compassion-based soothing system, and minimises the influence of the threat system. A more enriched contentment system also activates a healthy drive system that encourages us to work towards positive goal-attainment.

The goal of compassion-focused therapy is to achieve harmony between these three systems, as an imbalance between them is often central to poor mental health. When these systems are balanced, we are able to respond appropriately to daily situations. "


Trite, vacuous nonsense.

 

Interesting that psychotherapists seem to believe they can have such a meaningful, or substantial effect on people's lives. This despite clients who may be dealing with poverty, debilitating illness, abuse etc.