Reset your Immune System: Acceptability and Preliminary Effects of a CMT-Based Intervention in Patients with Hashimoto Thyroiditis

Patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) experience mental health complaints due to the immune system dysregulation. Preliminary evidence suggests that psychological interventions could improve patients’ quality of life. Compassionate mind training (CMT) is part of compassion-focused therapy (CFT) and can be used to help individuals address physical and mental health difficulties. The present study sought to assess the acceptability and preliminary efficacy of Reset Your Immune System, a 6-week CMT-based online intervention, in patients with HT.

Nine women were randomly selected from a wider sample that undertook the online intervention. Upon completion, they were interviewed with nine standard open-ended questions. Additionally, pre- and post-intervention questionnaires were filled out.

Qualitative analysis indicated that participants observed improvements in symptoms, sleep quality, self-awareness, stress-management, and self-regulation skills. Participants did experience some difficulties in undertaking compassion-related exercises. Quantitative analyses showed that negative affect, social/role limitations, and HT symptoms indicated a reliable change from pre- to post intervention.

Overall, Reset Your Immune System showed beneficial effects on patients with HT, suggesting that including psychological care as part of the standard treatment of HT might have added value. It is important to assess long-term effects in a larger sample through a randomized control trial.