Mindfulness and Compassion as a Path to Recovery and Personal Discovery: A First-Episode Schizophrenia Case Study: A First-Episode Schizophrenia Case Study

Research has gradually demonstrated that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) considerably improve the well-being of people with psychosis. However, the maintenance of these outcomes in the long term and the continuity of mindfulness practices in the transition from research to clinical contexts remain practically unexplored. Also, researchers have paid little attention to the movement of MBIs to compassion training and to how these approaches can complement one another. This clinical case study seeks to analyse the experience of a young woman with first-episode schizophrenia. The patient participated in an MBI for psychosis within the context of a research project, after which she received both individual and group clinical treatment, including compassion-focused therapy (CFT) training. The following aspects were measured at baseline, after the intervention, and at three-, nine-, twelve-, and forty-four-month follow-up: general symptomatology (DASS-21), worry (PSWQ-11), affect (PANAS), self-esteem (Rosenberg Scale), well-being (Ryff Scales), and mindfulness (FFMQ). Qualitative patient data were also recorded. Results show that the patient’s well-being improved after the MBI. Clinical observations show that, when the psychotic symptomatology had entered a second acute phase, the patient was better prepared to deal with the situation by using CFT skills instead of mindfulness. The applicability of MBIs and CFT is discussed considering the patient’s specific symptoms and the course of her disease within research settings and in clinical practice.