Handbook of Compassion in Healthcare

Dr Caragh Behan is a Consultant Psychiatrist and a Senior Clinical Lecturer with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. She has a doctorate in Health Economics and a diploma in medical education. She is also a trained mindfulness and meditation teacher and trainer. Brendan Kelly is Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin and Consultant Psychiatrist at Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin. In addition to his medical degree, he holds masters degrees in epidemiology, healthcare management, Buddhist studies, and mindfulness-based interventions; doctorates in medicine, history, governance, and law; and a higher doctorate in history.

• Acknowledgements; Introduction: why we wrote this book; Part I. Compassion in Healthcare: 1. What is compassion?; 2. Background to compassionate healthcare; 3. What compassion is not; 4. Medical professionalism and compassion; 5. Compassion in healthcare; 6. Neuroscience and compassion; 7. Resilience and compassion; 8. Self-compassion; 9. Compassion-based therapies Part II. Practicing Compassion: 10. Cultivating mindfulness and awareness; 11. Deepening compassion; 12. Developing resilience; 13. Building compassionate health systems; 14. Conclusions: compassionate healthcare; Index.

'This cutting-edge book is in two parts. Part I highlights that compassion is not about just being kind and empathic but is a precise motivational process with multiple competencies that can be cultivated. The editors highlight that contextualising and grounding personal and technical practices of compassionate brain states (which guide attention, thinking, body regulation and behaviour) in its delivery can have multiple effects. Part II brings readers to core communications on how to practise compassion and build our own compassion-focused brain states, how to create compassion-focused integrated relationships, and compassion-sensitive organisation. It is a book of deep scholarship and dedication to promoting science-based compassionate interventions at the centre of all aspects of healthcare delivery – from support for clinicians, to administrative staff and their interactions.' Paul Gilbert, PhD, FBPsS, OBE, Centre for Compassion Research and Training, College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby