Imagery rescripting versus cognitive restructuring for social anxiety: Treatment effects and working mechanisms
Author(s) / Creator(s)
Strohm, Miriam
Siegesleitner, Marena
Kunze, Anna E.
Ehring, Thomas
Wittekind, Charlotte E.
Abstract / Description
Background: Negative mental images in social anxiety are often linked to memories of distressing social experiences. Imagery Rescripting (ImRs) has been found to be a promising intervention to target aversive memories, but mechanisms underlying ImRs are largely unknown. The present study aimed (a) to investigate the effects of ImRs compared to cognitive restructuring (CR) on social anxiety symptoms and (b) to extend previous research by examining whether ImRs works by fostering reappraisal of negative emotional self-beliefs. Method: Highly socially anxious individuals (N = 77) were randomly allocated to ImRs, CR, or no intervention control (NIC). A speech task was performed at baseline and at 1-week follow-up. Results: Only CR significantly reduced social anxiety symptoms from baseline to follow-up. Decreases in negative appraisals and emotional distress in response to the speech task did not differ between conditions. Regarding working mechanisms, ImRs led to stronger increases in positive emotions than CR and NIC. Both CR and ImRs yielded short-term reductions in emotionally anchored idiosyncratic self-beliefs, but CR was superior to ImRs at follow-up. Conclusions: The present study provides evidence for the efficacy of a single-session of CR for social anxiety symptoms. As one specific version of ImRs was applied, it is conceivable that other or optimized versions of ImRs might be more effective.
Keyword(s)
imagery rescripting cognitive restructuring social anxiety mental imagery working mechanisms autobiographical memoriesPersistent Identifier
Date of first publication
2021-09-30
Journal title
Clinical Psychology in Europe
Volume
3
Issue
3
Article number
Article e5303
Publisher
PsychOpen GOLD
Publication status
publishedVersion
Review status
peerReviewed
Is version of
Citation
Strohm, M., Siegesleitner, M., Kunze, A. E., Ehring, T., & Wittekind, C. E. (2021). Imagery rescripting versus cognitive restructuring for social anxiety: Treatment effects and working mechanisms. Clinical Psychology in Europe, 3(3), Article e5303. https://doi.org/10.32872/cpe.5303
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Strohm, Miriam
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Siegesleitner, Marena
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Kunze, Anna E.
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Ehring, Thomas
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Wittekind, Charlotte E.
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PsychArchives acquisition timestamp2022-04-14T11:19:39Z
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Made available on2022-04-14T11:19:39Z
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Date of first publication2021-09-30
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Abstract / DescriptionBackground: Negative mental images in social anxiety are often linked to memories of distressing social experiences. Imagery Rescripting (ImRs) has been found to be a promising intervention to target aversive memories, but mechanisms underlying ImRs are largely unknown. The present study aimed (a) to investigate the effects of ImRs compared to cognitive restructuring (CR) on social anxiety symptoms and (b) to extend previous research by examining whether ImRs works by fostering reappraisal of negative emotional self-beliefs. Method: Highly socially anxious individuals (N = 77) were randomly allocated to ImRs, CR, or no intervention control (NIC). A speech task was performed at baseline and at 1-week follow-up. Results: Only CR significantly reduced social anxiety symptoms from baseline to follow-up. Decreases in negative appraisals and emotional distress in response to the speech task did not differ between conditions. Regarding working mechanisms, ImRs led to stronger increases in positive emotions than CR and NIC. Both CR and ImRs yielded short-term reductions in emotionally anchored idiosyncratic self-beliefs, but CR was superior to ImRs at follow-up. Conclusions: The present study provides evidence for the efficacy of a single-session of CR for social anxiety symptoms. As one specific version of ImRs was applied, it is conceivable that other or optimized versions of ImRs might be more effective.en_US
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Publication statuspublishedVersion
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Review statuspeerReviewed
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CitationStrohm, M., Siegesleitner, M., Kunze, A. E., Ehring, T., & Wittekind, C. E. (2021). Imagery rescripting versus cognitive restructuring for social anxiety: Treatment effects and working mechanisms. Clinical Psychology in Europe, 3(3), Article e5303. https://doi.org/10.32872/cpe.5303en_US
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ISSN2625-3410
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Persistent Identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/5177
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Persistent Identifierhttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.5781
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Language of contenteng
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PublisherPsychOpen GOLD
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Is version ofhttps://doi.org/10.32872/cpe.5303
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Is related tohttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.5098
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Keyword(s)imagery rescriptingen_US
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Keyword(s)cognitive restructuringen_US
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Keyword(s)social anxietyen_US
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Keyword(s)mental imageryen_US
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Keyword(s)working mechanismsen_US
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Keyword(s)autobiographical memoriesen_US
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Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)150
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TitleImagery rescripting versus cognitive restructuring for social anxiety: Treatment effects and working mechanismsen_US
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DRO typearticle
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Article numberArticle e5303
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Issue3
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Journal titleClinical Psychology in Europe
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Volume3
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Visible tag(s)Version of Recorden_US