Imagery rescripting in cognitive behaviour therapy: Images, treatment techniques and outcomes
Abstract
Although imagery rescripting has long been part of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), recent years have seen a growing interest in the use of imagery rescripting interventions in CBT, especially with patients who struggle with distressing, intrusive imagery. This growth in the clinical applications of imagery has led to the creation of the current special issue of collected papers on imagery rescripting, which is designed to: (a) present research and clinical applications of imagery rescripting techniques to problematic mental imagery, (b) consider problematic imagery across a wide range of psychological disorders that might be a target for imagery rescripting (including novel areas such as mental contamination, bulimia and suicidality), (c) explore a variety of imagery rescripting techniques in the treatment of PTSD, as well as depression, social phobia, and snake phobia, and (d) stimulate interest for future treatment innovation in the use of imagery rescripting techniques to address other clinical disorders. The aim of this editorial is to summarise the collected papers presented and the links between them. A working definition of two types of imagery rescripting is provided, along with a heuristic framework for conceptualising the range of imagery techniques in cognitive therapy.
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Interventions that facilitate reappraisal of threat expectancies, target imaginary rescripting of the trauma narrative, or induce optimism, compassion, hope, and expectancy may reduce arousal by downregulating the HPA axis, downregulating sympathetic activation, and modulating immune function adaptively.
“Finally, interventions that attempt to verbally facilitate reappraisal of the individual’s threat expectancies (as in cognitive therapy without the exposure component‡‡‡‡‡),172,173 that target imaginary rescripting of the trauma narrative,174 or that induce and maintain a mind state of optimism, compassion, hope, and expectancy (as in spiritual beliefs in a loving and protective Other)169,175–177”
From Fear and the Defense Cascade (2015) · cites this paper as [174]
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- Authors
- Holmes, E. A., Arntz, A., & Smucker, M. R.
- Affiliations
- Warneford Hospital (GB)
- Maastricht University (NL)
- Medical College of Wisconsin (US)
- Corresponding author
- Holmes, Emily A.
- Venue
- Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2007-12
- Volume
- 38
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 297-305
- ISSN
- 0005-7916 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2077796552
- Cited by
- 465
- References
- 72
- Citations by year
- 2026: 19 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 29 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 23
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (publishedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Economic and Social Research Council (ES/E000282/1)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Assessments
- Keywords
- imagery rescripting, cognitive behavioral therapy, mental imagery, intrusive imagery, mental contamination, bulimia nervosa, suicidality, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, social anxiety disorder, snake phobia
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Treatment Outcome, Imagery, Psychotherapy
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