Impact of imagery rescripting on adverse self-defining memories and post-recall working selves in a non-clinical sample: a pilot study

Cili, Soljana; Pettit, Sharon; Stopa, Lusia

doi:10.1080/16506073.2016.1212396

Cited by 32 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 46 publications

(52 reference statements)

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“…The fact that IR enhances positive affect is rather remarkable, given the fact that most IR interventions currently focus on the reduction of negative emotions associated with memories of aversive events. In line with other studies (Çili, Pettit, & Stopa, 2017; Watson, Rapee, & Todorov, 2016), our results suggest that increased positive emotionality might constitute a mechanism for the effectiveness of IR. Specifically, it has been proposed that increasing patients’ sense of control and mastery about distressing images or memories play an important role in rescripting-based treatments (Arntz, 2012; Arntz et al, 2007; Krakow et al, 2001; Long et al, 2011).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Investigating the effects of imagery rescripting on emotional memory: A series of analogue studies

Kunze

Arntz²,

Kindt³

2019

Journal of Experimental Psychopathology

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Imagery rescripting (IR) is a promising treatment for a variety of disorders, but its working mechanisms remain largely unknown. To elucidate the associative and evaluative learning processes underlying IR, we exposed participants to an aversive film clip followed by an instructed fear-conditioning procedure. The acquired fear memory was subsequently manipulated by either rescripting-(IR) or exposure-based (imaginal exposure; IE) interventions and their effects were examined on subjective and psychophysiological fear responses in three successive studies. Though the interpretation of the results was challenged with respect to the employed analogue IR intervention (Exp 1) and unexpected findings in the control condition (Exp 3), the present results establish preliminary evidence for the hypothesis that IR produces differential effects on fear responding when compared to IE. For example, in line with stimulus devaluation theory, IR effectively reduced subjective distress to the conditioned stimulus (Exp 2). Also, IR resulted in decreased physiological fear responses after fear reinstatement (Exp 3). The findings advance our general understanding of the processes involved in IR and they tentatively indicate that rescripting-and exposure-based treatments may work through different mechanisms. Moreover, this line of research demonstrates the challenges encountered when working with analogue models to test mechanisms of therapeutic change.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Investigating the effects of imagery rescripting on emotional memory: A series of analogue studies

Kunze

Arntz²,

Kindt³

2019

Journal of Experimental Psychopathology

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“…At follow-up, participants rated the memory as less important for their sense of self than at the first ImRs session. They also reported higher state self-esteem and positive affect, as well as reduced negative affect and anxiety after recalling the memory ( Çili et al, 2017 ). Taken together, these results seem to indicate that ImRs strongly affects what a person thinks or has learned about him/herself (i.e., self-representation).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rescripting Memory, Redefining the Self: A Meta-Emotional Perspective on the Hypothesized Mechanism(s) of Imagery Rescripting

Mancini

2018

Front. Psychol.

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Imagery Rescripting (ImRs) is a therapeutic technique that aims to reduce the distress associated with negative memories of early aversive experiences. It consists of prompting patients to rescript the autobiographical memory in line with their unmet needs. In recent years, ImRs was found effective in reducing symptoms of disorders such as depression, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and personality disorders. However, the cognitive mechanisms underlying such broad effectiveness are currently an object of debate. Empirical evidence has shown that ImRs reduces the negative self-belief derived from aversive memories in different types of mental disorders. However, existing accounts are not very accurate in explaining how this change in self-belief occurs and therefore why ImRs is effective across psychopathologies. We propose that ImRs changes the semantic self-representation encapsulated in the aversive memory by reducing the meta-emotional problem (i.e., perceiving a negative emotion as problematic and unacceptable). Empirical evidence implicates the meta-emotional problem or “secondary problem” in the maintenance of different disorders and has shown that treating it leads to symptoms reduction. Here we hypothesize that: (i) ImRs as a stand-alone treatment may lead to a reduction of symptoms; negative self-belief and the meta-emotional problem; and (ii) the reduction of the meta-emotional problem might mediate the relation between symptoms and negative self-belief reduction. To test our hypothesis, we present an experimental procedure that could be used in future studies. We conclude discussing the existing theoretical frameworks that attempt to unravel the mechanisms that play a role in ImRs.

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“…Others have suggested that individuals have different self-representations that are activated in response to memory recall, and whose accessibility may be modified as a result of ImRs (e.g. Brewin, 2006; Brewin et al , 2009; Çili et al , 2017). However, based on the results of this study, it is not possible to suggest how probable mechanisms of ImRs are.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Imagery rescripting of traumatic memories for panic disorder: an exploratory study

Shibuya

Seki

Nagata

et al. 2018

tCBT

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Imagery rescripting (ImRs) is a psychological intervention designed to change the meaning of images and associated memories and reduce emotional distress. Recent studies have shown that ImRs can be successfully applied to many psychological problems and disorders; however, little has been reported on the application of ImRs for panic disorder (PD). Consequently, we explored the therapeutic effects of ImRs on patients with PD. Fifteen patients with PD received 16 individual cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) sessions weekly, including one ImRs session. Early traumatic memories associated with recurrent images in panic situations were identified and rescripted to alleviate maladaptive encapsulated beliefs. ImRs ratings (vividness and distress of the images and memories and conviction degree of encapsulated beliefs) were measured prior to and after ImRs. Self-negative contents not directly related to symptoms of panic attack were observed as common themes in the worst meaning of the image, the memory, and in the encapsulated belief. Whilst five (33%) patients had anticipatory anxiety, 10 (67%) patients had other self-negative beliefs. ImRs significantly reduced distress from images, memories and encapsulated beliefs; however, it did not change the vividness of images and memories. There was no significant correlation between the reduction in PD severity over the CBT program and the change in each ImRs rating. The results of this study are promising for certain aspects of panic disorder. However, further research is needed to overcome the limitations of this study.

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Impact of imagery rescripting on adverse self-defining memories and post-recall working selves in a non-clinical sample: a pilot study

Cited by 32 publications

References 46 publications

Investigating the effects of imagery rescripting on emotional memory: A series of analogue studies

Investigating the effects of imagery rescripting on emotional memory: A series of analogue studies

Rescripting Memory, Redefining the Self: A Meta-Emotional Perspective on the Hypothesized Mechanism(s) of Imagery Rescripting

Imagery rescripting of traumatic memories for panic disorder: an exploratory study

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