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Self-compassion is the ability to respond to one s failures shortcomings and difficulties with kindness and openness rather than criticism. This study, which might be regarded as a proof of concept study, aimed to establish whether self-compassion is associated with expected emotional responses and the likelihood of responding with problem solving, support seeking, distraction, avoidance, rumination or catastrophizing to unpleasant self-relevant events occurring in three social contexts. Sixty chronic pain patients were presented with six vignettes describing scenes in which the principal actor transgressed a social contract with negative interpersonal consequences. Vignettes represented two dimensions: 1) whether pain or a non-pain factor interrupted the fulfilment of the contract, and 2) variation in the social setting (work, peer and family). The SelfCompassion Scale was the covariate in the analysis. Higher levels of selfcompassion were associated with significantly lower negative affect and lower reported likelihood of avoidance, catastrophizing and rumination. Selfcompassion did not interact with the pain vs. non-pain factor. Work related vignettes were rated as more emotional more likely to be associated with avoidance, catastrophizing and rumination and less likelihood of problem solving. The findings suggest that self-compassion warrants further investigation in the chronic pain population both with regards to the extent of its influence as a trait, and in terms of the potential to enhance chronic pain patients ability to be self-compassionate, with a view to its therapeutic utility in enhancing psychological wellbeing and adjustment. Limitations as regards to possible criterion contamination and the generalizability of vignette studies are discussed.

OBJECTIVES. The aim of the Condition Management Programme (CMP) is to help Incapacity Benefit recipients manage their health conditions more effectively and return to work. This paper seeks to examine the clinical and employment outcomes from a group-based and mixed-condition CMP. DESIGN. In a prospective cohort design, measures of employment status and psychological well-being were taken at three time points; pre-CMP, post-CMP, and at 3-month follow-up. METHOD. Participants (N= 2,064) with a variety of physical and mental health conditions voluntarily attended a seven session cognitive-behaviourally informed psychoeducational group intervention. The psychological measures used were the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation - Outcome Measure, Work and Social Adjustment Scale, Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Intrinsic Motivation Scale. The employment status of participants was also measured at the three time points of the evaluation. RESULTS. Following CMP, 50% of participants experienced a reliable improvement in psychological well-being and 26% had either taken some steps towards work or returned to work at follow-up. Participants with a mental health condition were more likely to experience a reliable improvement in psychological well-being compared to those with physical health conditions. CONCLUSIONS. The results suggest that participation in CMP may be helpful in facilitating more effective self-management of the health conditions contributing to unemployment. The results have implications for whether formal employment assistance should be available in mental health services.

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