Brief Emotion-Focused Therapy for Self-Criticism: A Comparison With a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Approach

Efficacy of a Short-Term Emotion-Focused Therapy Intervention for Self-Criticism Compared With a Cognitive-Behavioral Gold Standard: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine whether Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) is an effective approach in reducing self-criticism in adults. EFT will be compared with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a well-established treatment shown to be effective for a wide range of mental health difficulties.

The main questions the study aims to answer are:

1. Does EFT reduce self-criticism as effectively as CBT?
2. How do EFT and CBT compare in their impact on other mental health symptoms?

Participants will:

1. Receive a six-session, weekly online individual intervention (EFT or CBT), focused on reducing self-criticism.
2. Complete regular questionnaires during the intervention and at follow-up periods to track changes in self-criticism and other mental health symptoms.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. age over 18 years old
2. Portuguese native speakers
3. elevated self-critical processes
4. perceived impact of the self-critical process on their daily functionality,
5. availability to work with self-critical processes.

Exclusion Criteria:

Since self-criticism is a transdiagnostic criteria for various mental disorders, the existence of a specific diagnosis is not in itself an exclusion criterion. However, participants will be excluded in case of

1. elevated dysfunctionality
2. high risk factors (such as suicide risk)
3. severe psychopathology, such as bipolar personality disorder, panic disorder, substance abuse, and personality disorders non adequate to a brief intervention previously identified.
4. changes in the therapeutic plan with psychotropic medication in the last month, if currently taking psychotropic medication
5. psychological treatment maintenance during the study implementation.