Effect of Forgiveness Intervention on Self–Conscious Emotions and Self-Compassion among Patients with Major Depressive Disorders

Background: Forgiveness intervention improves patient’ depressive symptoms by enhancing feelings of forgiveness and compassion toward oneself as well as others. Purpose: to identify the effect of forgiveness intervention on self –conscious emotions and self-compassion among patients with major depressive disorders. Setting: The study was conducted at neuropsychiatric inpatient department of Tanta university hospital. The research design was quasi-experimental. Sampling: 50 adult patients with Major Depressive Disorders (MDD) were chosen as a convenient sample. Instruments: Three instruments were used: {Heartland Forgiveness Scale (HFS), Self-compassion Scale short form (SCS-SF), and State Shame and Guilt Scale (SSGS)}. Results: a highly positive statistical significant correlation between forgiveness and self –compassion was found, while a negative statistical significant correlation between forgiveness, self -compassion and self -conscious emotion (shame &guilt) of the studied patients was detected throughout the study. Conclusion: this study proved that the current intervention was efficient when it is implemented at rehabilitation stage of treatment of patients with MDD. Recommendations: involving the current forgiveness intervention in rehabilitation program of patients with MDD at the hospital and community health settings.