NCT07138417

The Therapeutic Mechanism of Compassion-Based Family Intervention

Investigating the Therapeutic Mechanism of Compassion-Based Family Intervention for Adolescents With Emotional Disorders and Their Parents

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 120 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 12 Years – 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

1. To investigate the correlations between self-compassion-related variables in parents of adolescents with emotional disorders and parenting stress as well as self-stigmatization; and the correlations between self-compassion-related variables and the severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms in adolescents. 2. To evaluate the effectiveness of a Compassion-Focused Family Intervention in increasing self-compassion among adolescents and their parents, and in reducing parenting stress, self-stigmatization, and the severity of adolescent depression and anxiety. 3. To explore the neural and physiological mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of the compassion intervention on parent-child interactions, using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) hyperscanning and wearable wristband devices.

Detailed description

This study plans to recruit 120 families (each consisting of a 12-18-year-old adolescent with emotional disorders and their parents), and randomly divide them into an intervention group and a control group, with 60 pairs in each group. The intervention group received a 6-week compassion-based family intervention, once a week for 120 minutes each time, accompanied by family exercises including meditation training and emotional journal. The waiting list control group waited for 6 weeks after the baseline measurement for the post-test, and then conducted the same intervention. The study adopted multi-dimensional assessment: at five time points including baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 3, 6 month follow-up, the psychological state of parents and children was measured through psychological scales (such as the Children's Depression Inventory Scale and the Child-Parent Relationship Scale). At the same time, near-infrared hyperscanning technology was used to record the synchronization of brain signals when parents and children watched emotional videos (2 positive/neutral/negative segments each) (analyzing neural synchronization in the 0.02-0.10Hz frequency band), and a wearable bracelet was used to monitor physiological indicators such as heart rate variability. Data analysis will examine the effect of intervention on enhancing parents' self-compassion level, reducing parenting pressure and symptoms of depression and anxiety in adolescents, and explore the association mechanism between parent-child neural synchrony changes and intervention effects. Ultimately, it will verify the effectiveness of compassion therapy in improving the mental health of families of adolescents with emotional disorders.

Conditions

• Emotional Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Compassion-Based Family Therapy	Draw ideas from traditional Chinese culture, the investigators have developed the compassion-based family intervention therapy to improve the mental health of both parents and children by enhancing their synchronization. The 6-week program followed a progressive thematic structure. Week 1 focuses on introduction and connection, themed "Setting Sail: The Additions and Subtractions for a Happy Family." Weeks 2 and 3 address self-compassion: Week 2 is themed "Self-compassion: Embrace yourself with compassion here and now."; Week 3 is themed "Self-compassion: Accepting "growing pains."." Weeks 4 and 5 explored developing compassion for others: Week 4 is themed "Listening to the heart: Enhancing communication, bringing us closer."; Week 5 is themed "Building a harbor together: Managing conflict, creating happiness" Week 6 involves integration and review, themed "Integrating knowledge and action: Practicing compassion, lighting the path forward."

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-08-30
• Primary completion: 2027-06-01
• Completion: 2027-07-01
• First posted: 2025-08-22
• Last updated: 2025-09-19

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: China