Effects of a training in mental imagery on worry: A proof-of-principle study

Skodzik, Timo; Leopold, Alexandra; Ehring, Thomas

doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2016.11.009

Cited by 18 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…This may then lead to a failure in adaptive emotional and informational processing, such as identifying how a potential outcome may be emotionally experienced, or practically influenced or overcome. Some recent research has indicated that increasing the use of mental imagery might disrupt the occurrence of worry (Skodzik, Leopold, & Ehring, 2017, suggesting that specificity and detail in thinking may be key targets to focus on. FeST may be a suitable program to test for this purpose.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changing the future: An initial test of Future Specificity Training (FeST)

Hallford

Yeow

Fountas

et al. 2020

Behaviour Research and Therapy

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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 selfstates. 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.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changing the future: An initial test of Future Specificity Training (FeST)

Hallford

Yeow

Fountas

et al. 2020

Behaviour Research and Therapy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Experimental work in adults indicates that when high worriers are asked to process worries as mental images (relative to verbal worry) it initially increases arousal but then reduces anxiety related to worry-topics (Nelson & Harvey, 2002), and worry-related intrusions (Stokes & Hirsch, 2010;Wells & Papageorgiou, 1995). Initial work in adults also suggests that interventions enabling participants to create vivid, detailed mental imagery could offer promise to reduce pathological worry (Skodzik, Adelt, Nossek, Kuck, & Ehring, 2018;Skodzik, Leopold, & Ehring, 2017). However, as yet, no research has investigated this in adolescence or focussed on processing intrusive prospective imagery.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intrusive images of a distressing future: Links between prospective mental imagery, generalized anxiety and a tendency to suppress emotional experience in youth

Pile

Lau

2020

Behaviour Research and Therapy

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“…This may then lead to a failure in adaptive emotional and informational processing, such as identifying how a potential outcome may be emotionally experienced, or practically influenced or overcome. Some recent research has indicated that increasing the use of mental imagery might disrupt the occurrence of worry (Skodzik et al 2017(Skodzik et al , 2018, suggesting that specificity and detail in thinking may be key targets to focus on. FeST may be a suitable program to test for this purpose.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changing the Future: An Initial Test of Future Specificity Training (FeST)

Hallford¹,

Yeow²,

Fountas³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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A range of psychiatric disorders are characterised by impairments in episodic future thinking (EFT), and particularly simulating specific, spatiotemporally-located future events. To date, no study has examined whether training can lead to sustained improvement in the specificity of EFT. In this study, participants (N=60; M age=31, SD=13.2) were randomized to a two-session, group-based program on future thinking (Future Specificity Training; FeST) or wait-list. At follow-up the training group, relative to the wait-list group, showed large, statistically-significant improvements in the ability to mentally simulate specific EFT (d=.82), as well as 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. This study provides the first evidence that EFT specificity can be enhanced, and the effects of FeST on other variables indicate a possible avenue to disrupt psychopathological processes.

show abstract

Effects of a training in mental imagery on worry: A proof-of-principle study

Cited by 18 publications

References 49 publications

Changing the future: An initial test of Future Specificity Training (FeST)

Changing the future: An initial test of Future Specificity Training (FeST)

Intrusive images of a distressing future: Links between prospective mental imagery, generalized anxiety and a tendency to suppress emotional experience in youth

Changing the Future: An Initial Test of Future Specificity Training (FeST)

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