Effects of intranasal oxytocin on 'compassion focused imagery'.

Abstract

This study explored the effects of oxytocin on Compassion Focused Imagery (CFI), that is, imagining another "mind" being deeply compassionate to oneself, and the interaction of these effects with self-criticism and feeling socially safe with others. Forty-four healthy participants (29 men and 15 women) completed self-report measures of self-criticism, attachment style, and social safeness before taking part in a double-blind randomized placebo controlled study. They attended two imagery sessions, receiving oxytocin in one and a placebo in the other. Positive affect was measured before and after each imagery session, and "imagery experience" was assessed after each session. Overall, oxytocin increased the ease of imagining compassionate qualities but there were important individual differences in how CFI was experienced. Participants higher in self-criticism, lower in self-reassurance, social safeness, and attachment security had less positive experiences of CFI under oxytocin than placebo, indicating that the effects of oxytocin on affiliation may depend on attachment and self-evaluative styles.

The physiological and emotional effects of touch: Assessing a hand-massage intervention with high self-critics

“…A growing body of research demonstrates that for those higher in self-criticism, initial therapeutic interventions can prove threatening (Gilbert et al, 2006;Rockliff et al, 2008, Longe et al, 2011Rockliff et al, 2011;McEwan and Gilbert, 2016). This is despite such therapeutic interventions (e.g.…”

“…Considering this, stimulating more positive affiliative processes has been recommended as a therapeutic intervention for those higher in self-criticism, with increasing evidence of the effectiveness of this approach (Gilbert and Procter, 2006; Fredrickson et al, 2008; Hutcherson et al, 2008; Laithwaite, et al, 2008; Beaumont et al, 2012; Judge et al, 2012; Braehler et al, 2013). However, recent research has shown that individuals with higher levels of self-criticism can often be resistant to, or fear, affiliative signals (Gilbert et al, 2011). For example, individuals higher in self-criticism are more likely to have negative reactions to oxytocin -a neuropeptide associated with supportive relationship interactions (Rockliff et al, 2011).…”

“…However, recent research has shown that individuals with higher levels of self-criticism can often be resistant to, or fear, affiliative signals (Gilbert et al, 2011). For example, individuals higher in self-criticism are more likely to have negative reactions to oxytocin -a neuropeptide associated with supportive relationship interactions (Rockliff et al, 2011). In addition, those higher in self-criticism have been found to demonstrate increased amygdala activity indicative of threat processing, when trying to be self-reassuring in response to a shame event (Longe et al, 2010).…”

“…To expand, as individuals with higher levels of selfcriticism can find emotion-based therapies a negative experience in the first instance (e.g. Gilbert et al, 2006;Rockliff et al, 2008; Longe et al, 2011;Rockliff et al, 2011;McEwan and Gilbert, 2016, focused touch may offer an alternative method of stimulating affiliative affect systems in those higher in self-criticism. Our research therefore indicates future detailed (and larger) studies with clinical populations should be directed at the use of focused touch, as a precursor to well-being interventions and/or therapy.…”

Fears of Compassion in a Depressed Population Implication for Psychotherapy

“…Indeed, self-critics can respond to compassionate imagery with threat responses as measured by reduced heart rate variability [66], greater amygdala activation [67] and are less likely to have pleasurable affiliative experiences to compassion imagery when given oxytocin [68]. In fact, as noted above, when self-critical people are invited to focus on feeling connected and being open to receiving compassion, care and concern from others, this often stimulates feelings of grief or an awareness of "how lonely one feels", and/or a sense of not deserving compassion [68].…”