Protocol for Self-Compassion Intervention for Teens With Diabetes Type 1 and Their Caregivers

Brief Self-Compassion Intervention for Adolescents With Diabetes Type 1 and Their Caregivers: Protocol for a Single Case Multiple-baseline Feasibility Study

The goal of this study is to examine the feasibility and potential effectiveness of a short (4 sessions) self-compassion intervention for adolescents with T1D and their caregivers on psychological, metabolic, and behavioral outcomes.

Type 1 Diabetes (TD1) has a significant impact on individuals dealing with this chronic metabolic condition, their families and the whole society. A particularly vulnerable group of individuals with TD1 are adolescents. The investigators created a short (4 sessions) self-compassion intervention for adolescents with T1D and their caregivers. Both feasibility and potential clinical effectiveness will be assessed using a single-case, multiple baseline experimental design where psychological, behavioral, and metabolic outcomes will be evaluated at baseline, post intervention, and 3- and 6-months follow ups. Moreover, ecological momentary assessment will be performed daily.

Inclusion Criteria for the caregivers:

• have taken care of the management of the patient with diabetes for at least one year since the day of recruitment
• they have access to a personal mobile phone.

Inclusion Criteria for the patients/teens:

• aged 11-15 years old
• diagnosed with T1D more than 12 months ago at the time of recruitment
• they have access to a personal mobile phone.

General Exclusion Criteria:

• non-Spanish native speakers
• presenting developmental or attention deficit disorders (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, ADHD)
• being diagnosed with a serious mental disorder requiring ongoing treatment (e.g., psychosis) or receiving a pharmacological intervention (e.g., depression, anxiety).

Exclusion criteria for teens:

• untreated hypothyroidism
• recently (in previous 48 hours of the recruiting process) diagnosed with (a) diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or (b) severe hypoglycaemia.