Cognitive defusion and guided imagery tasks reduce naturalistic food cravings and consumption: A field study

Abstract

The present study investigated the effect of two craving reduction techniques, namely, cognitive defusion and guided imagery, on naturalistic food cravings. These techniques targeted the intrusion and elaboration stages of the craving process, respectively (Kavanagh, Andrade, & May, 2005). Participants underwent a seven-day baseline period followed by a seven-day intervention period, during which they recorded their food cravings as they occurred using online diaries accessed via smartphone. In the intervention period, participants were randomly assigned to one of cognitive defusion, guided imagery or control conditions. Participants in the cognitive defusion and guided imagery conditions listened to three-minute audio clips containing their respective instructions every time they experienced a food craving, and rated their craving intensity before and after the intervention, while the control participants recorded their cravings as they did in the baseline week. Results showed that both cognitive defusion and guided imagery techniques reduced craving frequency, intensity, the likelihood of consumption following cravings, and craving-related calorie intake, consistent with predictions. These findings show that cognitive defusion and guided imagery are useful for dealing with naturally occurring cravings across a range of foods, and can reduce craving-related consumption in everyday life.

Laboratory‐based interventions targeting food craving: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Of the controlled studies, six ESs were categorized to vivo cue exposure, 39 studies to cognitive regulation strategies (n = 6 acceptance, n = 13 reappraisal, n = 7 suppression, and n = 13 distraction), 13 studies to cognitive control training (n = 3 ICT, n = 4 AAT, and n = 6 ABM), and six to neurofeedback or biofeedback interventions …”

“…Two studies investigating cue exposure in virtual reality showed medium to huge pre‐post ES on craving . A further study investigated a 7‐day mobile intervention involving distraction and acceptance techniques on craving, both of which had large pre‐post effects on self‐reported craving. A study using suppression‐ and acceptance‐based online self‐help instructions did not have significant effects when comparing baseline with 2‐week postintervention craving scores …”

Interference-based methods to mitigate gambling craving: a proof-of-principle pilot study

“…Yet, previous research that used comparable craving induction procedures and interference methods successfully showed differences in post-task self-reported craving across experimental conditions (e.g., Andrade, Pears et al, 2012;Kemps & Tiggemann, 2007;May et al, 2010). This was the case, for example, for studies showing the superiority of interference methods in comparison to 'mind wandering' or 'no-task' conditions (e.g., Kemps, Tiggemann, Christianson et al, 2008;May et al, 2012;Schumacher et al, 2018). This observation suggests that the effects obtained in the current study, which followed a similar experimental design to those of the previous studies, can reasonably be attributed to the interference methods and not to the spontaneous reduction of induced craving.…”

The decentering component of mindfulness reduces reactions to mental imagery.

“…Furthermore, people high in trait mindfulness have decreased intrusive imagery, are better able to stop their imagery, and can better distract themselves from it (Ostafin, Kassman, & Wessel, 2013). Similarly, guided imagery interventions have similar short-term effects as decentering (Schumacher et al, 2018;Turner & Tapper, 2018). These findings suggest that mindfulness prevents undesired reactions by reducing mental imagery (Tapper, 2018).…”