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Stavropoulos L, Cooper DDJ, Champion SM, Keevers L, Newby JM, Grisham JR. Basic processes and clinical applications of mental imagery in worry: A systematic review. Clin Psychol Rev 2024; 110:102427. [PMID: 38640775 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2024.102427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In this systematic review, we aimed to synthesise existing research on the phenomenology of mental imagery among high worriers compared to healthy individuals, and to characterise the nature and effectiveness of existing imagery-related interventions in treatment of worry. METHODS PsycInfo, CENTRAL, EMBASE, Medline, Medline Epub, and PubMed were searched for studies examining the relationship between worry/GAD and mental imagery, or interventions using imagery in treatment of worry/GAD. We assessed study quality and used qualitative narrative synthesis to comprehensively map study results. RESULTS The search yielded 2589 abstracts that were assessed for eligibility independently by two authors. From this, 183 full texts were screened and 50 qualitatively synthesised. Twenty-seven reported an association between worry/GAD and an aspect of mental imagery. Here, overactive negative and worry imagery, and diminished positive future imagining, were associated with worry/GAD. Twenty-three studies reported an intervention. This literature suggested mixed findings regarding efficacy, including for imaginal exposure as an independent technique for GAD. CONCLUSIONS Findings support dysfunctional negative imagining and diminished positive prospective imagery in GAD. General imagining abilities remain intact, which is promising for efforts to utilise imagery in treatment. Further research is warranted to develop innovative clinical applications of imagery in treatment of GAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Stavropoulos
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - David D J Cooper
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sophie M Champion
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Luke Keevers
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jill M Newby
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Black Dog Institute, UNSW, Hospital Road, Randwick, Sydney 2022, Australia
| | - Jessica R Grisham
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Moran T, Eyal T. Emotion Regulation by Psychological Distance and Level of Abstraction: Two Meta-Analyses. PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY REVIEW 2022; 26:112-159. [PMID: 35100904 DOI: 10.1177/10888683211069025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Self-reflection is suggested to attenuate feelings, yet researchers disagree on whether adopting a distant or near perspective, or processing the experience abstractly or concretely, is more effective. Given the relationship between psychological distance and level of abstraction, we suggest the "construal-matching hypothesis": Psychological distance and abstraction differently influence emotion intensity, depending on whether the emotion's appraisal involves low-level or high-level construal. Two meta-analyses tested the effects of psychological distance (k = 230) and level-of-abstraction (k = 98) manipulations on emotional experience. A distant perspective attenuated emotional experience (g = 0.52) but with weaker effects for high-level (g = 0.29; for example, self-conscious emotions) than low-level emotions (g= 0.64; for example, basic emotions). Level of abstraction only attenuated the experience of low-level emotions (g = 0.2) and showed a reverse (nonsignificant) effect for high-level emotions (g = -0.13). These results highlight differences between distancing and level-of-abstraction manipulations and the importance of considering the type of emotion experienced in emotion regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tal Moran
- The Open University of Israel, Ra'anana, Israel.,Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Tal Eyal
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
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Biéchy JP, Charissou C, Gobert S, Verdier JC, Castel-Lacanal E, Amarantini D, Fautrelle L. The combination of deep breathing and mental imagery promotes cardiovascular recovery in firefighters. ERGONOMICS 2021; 64:1231-1242. [PMID: 33899680 DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2021.1916606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Firefighters' rescue operations involve intense physical activity associated with a high level of cardiovascular stress. To sustain such intense physical performance whilst maintaining a healthy heart, it is crucial that they benefit from rapid recovery between each intervention. This study aimed at investigating the impacts of a recovery protocol combining deep breathing and mental imagery. Forty firefighters were divided into two experimental groups which undertook two maximum fitness tests separated by either the control recovery protocol (30 min reading time; n = 20) or the experimental recovery protocol (30 min of deep breathing and mental imagery; n = 20). When compared to the pre-tests, the percentage evolution ratios in the post-tests for the Cooper performance, the heart rate recovery and the parasympathetic reactivation were promoted by the experimental protocol, compared to simple reading. In light of these results, we propose the use of practices of deep-breathing combined with mental imagery to improve firefighters' recovery. Practitioner summary: Firefighters' activities involve intense physical activities associated with a high level of psychological stress. Enhancing their recovery after each rescue intervention appears crucial. The results of this study showed that a recovery protocol combining deep breathing and mental imagery promotes heart rate recovery and better maintenance of physical fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Biéchy
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- Département STAPS, Institut National Universitaire Champollion, Rodez, France
| | - C Charissou
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- Département STAPS, Institut National Universitaire Champollion, Rodez, France
| | - S Gobert
- SDIS77, Service Départemental d'Incendie et de Secours de Seine et Marne, Melun, France
| | - J C Verdier
- Institut Coeur Effort Santé, Service de Réadaptation Cardiaque, Paris, France
- Société Française de Cardiologie, Paris, France
| | - E Castel-Lacanal
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- Department of Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, University Hospital of Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - D Amarantini
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - L Fautrelle
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- Département STAPS, Institut National Universitaire Champollion, Rodez, France
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Pile V, Williamson G, Saunders A, Holmes EA, Lau JYF. Harnessing emotional mental imagery to reduce anxiety and depression in young people: an integrative review of progress and promise. Lancet Psychiatry 2021; 8:836-852. [PMID: 34419188 DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(21)00195-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Emotional mental imagery is a powerful part of our mental landscape. Given its capacity to depict, process, and generate emotional events, mental imagery could have an important role in psychological therapies. This Series paper explores whether harnessing emotional mental imagery is meaningful to young people; ways in which interventions use emotional mental imagery; contextual and individual factors influencing intervention effectiveness; and mechanisms underpinning imagery techniques. We completed a systematic review of imagery interventions and consulted young people with lived experience (n=10) and leading international experts (n=7). The systematic search identified 86 papers covering a diverse range of imagery interventions. Across the seven categories of techniques reviewed, imagery rescripting for aversive memories, techniques targeting positive imagery, and imagery-enhanced protocols indicated the most potential. The report suggests that harnessing emotional mental imagery in psychological interventions could be a promising approach to reduce anxiety and depression and that mental health science could inform the development of new interventions and help to maximise intervention effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Pile
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, UK.
| | - Grace Williamson
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Aleks Saunders
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Emily A Holmes
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jennifer Y F Lau
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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Pile V, Winstanley A, Oliver A, Bennett E, Lau JYF. Targeting image-based autobiographical memory in childhood to prevent emotional disorders: Intervention development and a feasibility randomised controlled trial. Behav Res Ther 2021; 144:103913. [PMID: 34214822 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2021.103913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Maladaptive cognitive styles confer vulnerability for emotional disorders and may emerge in childhood. In three phases, we developed and evaluated a novel parent-led intervention (My Memory Forest) to target overgeneral memory and avoidance of negative memories. In phase 1, the intervention was co-designed using two focus groups (n = 30 children) and consultation with teachers and parents. The acceptability, feasibility, and clinical potential of My Memory Forest was initially evaluated in phase two (n = 12 children aged 6 to 9) and then in a feasibility randomised controlled trial in phase three, against an active control (n = 56 aged 6 to 9). Acceptability and engagement were good, and no harm was reported by parents or participants. Phase 2 identified decreases in self-reported anxiety (d = 1.08), depression (d = 0.51) and vividness of negative events (d = 0.53). There was little change in parent-reported symptoms. In phase 3, recruitment was highly feasible and participant retention excellent (100%) but parent retention poor (55%). Descriptive statistics indicated similar changes in anxiety and depression for both groups. Changes between Phases 2 and 3 (e.g. methods of recruitment) could explain the discrepancy between results. Further development is necessary before proceeding to another trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN13142918.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Pile
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ali Winstanley
- Cultural Institute, King's College London, Artist, Illustrator and Arts and Wellbeing Project Producer, Lewes, East Sussex, UK
| | - Abigail Oliver
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Eleanor Bennett
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jennifer Y F Lau
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.
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Koerner N, Blackwell SE. Mental imagery in chronic worry and generalized anxiety disorder: Shining a spotlight on a key research and clinical target. Behav Res Ther 2020; 137:103785. [PMID: 33360432 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2020.103785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Naomi Koerner
- Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, Canada.
| | - Simon E Blackwell
- Mental Health Research and Treatment Center, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany.
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Hallford DJ, Yeow JJE, Fountas G, Herrick CA, Raes F, D'Argembeau A. Changing the future: An initial test of Future Specificity Training (FeST). Behav Res Ther 2020; 131:103638. [PMID: 32416495 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2020.103638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
A range of psychiatric disorders are characterised by impairments in episodic future thinking (EFT), and particularly simulating specific, spatiotemporally-located future events. No study has examined whether training can lead to sustained improvement in specific EFT. In this study, participants (N = 60; M age = 31, SD = 13.2) were randomized to a two-session, group-based future thinking program (Future Specificity Training; FeST) or wait-list. At follow-up the training group, relative to wait-list, showed large, statistically-significant improvements in the ability to mentally simulate specific EFT (d = .82), increases in detail (d = 1.32), use of mental imagery (d = 1.32), anticipated (d = 1.78) and anticipatory pleasure (d = 1.07), perceived control (d = 1.20), and likelihood of occurrence (d = 1.09). Some effects were also observed on positive, generalised future self-states. In the context of inherent limitations of subjective reporting in trials, this study provides evidence that EFT specificity can be enhanced, and the effects of FeST indicate a possible avenue to disrupt psychopathological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J Hallford
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, Victoria, 3125, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - J J E Yeow
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, Victoria, 3125, Melbourne, Australia
| | - G Fountas
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, Victoria, 3125, Melbourne, Australia
| | - C A Herrick
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, Victoria, 3125, Melbourne, Australia
| | - F Raes
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, Box 3712, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - A D'Argembeau
- Psychology and Neuroscience of Cognition Research Unit, Department of Psychology, University of Liège, Belgium and Fonds de La Recherche Scientifique (F.R.S.-FNRS), Belgium
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Lemyre A, Belzile F, Landry M, Bastien CH, Beaudoin LP. Pre-sleep cognitive activity in adults: A systematic review. Sleep Med Rev 2020; 50:101253. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2019.101253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2019] [Revised: 11/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Tallon K, Ovanessian MM, Koerner N, Dugas MJ. Mental imagery in generalized anxiety disorder: A comparison with healthy control participants. Behav Res Ther 2020; 127:103571. [PMID: 32087392 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2020.103571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Mental imagery plays a prominent role across psychopathology. However, its quality and role in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) have not been examined as extensively as in other disorders. The goal of the present study was to obtain a better understanding of general imagery processes and individual differences in people with GAD. Adults with GAD (N = 31) were compared to a Healthy Control (HC) group (N = 32) across mental imagery domains as per Pearson, Deeprose, Wallace-Hadrill, Heyes, and Holmes (2013)'s framework: cognitive, general use/experience, and clinical. No differences were found between the GAD and HC groups on cognitive aspects of imagery. Both groups were also similar in their ability to imagine experiences across sensory modalities. No differences were found between groups in their spontaneous use of imagery in everyday situations, or in vividness of sensory-perceptual imagery. For clinical aspects of imagery, between-group differences emerged in the experience of prospective imagery; those with GAD reported greater "pre-experiencing" ("intrusive, prospective, personally-relevant imagery"; Deeprose & Holmes, 2010), rated imagined future negative scenarios as more vivid, more likely, and more personally relevant, and evaluated the experience of these images as more intense than did HCs. Taken together, findings suggest that the presence of intrusive mental imagery distinguishes individuals with GAD from those without psychopathology. Findings could help improve interventions utilizing imagery techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Naomi Koerner
- Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, Canada.
| | - Michel J Dugas
- Département de Psychoéducation et de Psychologie, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Canada
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Intrusive images of a distressing future: Links between prospective mental imagery, generalized anxiety and a tendency to suppress emotional experience in youth. Behav Res Ther 2020; 124:103508. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2019.103508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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