Imagery rescripting versus in vivo exposure in the treatment of snake fear

Sex hormones predict the sensory strength and vividness of mental imagery

“…Mental imagery is commonly used during such treatments, for example in imagined exposure procedures (Hunt & Fenton, 2007) and imagery rescripting procedures (Holmes et al, 2007). Voluntary mental images can undergo associative learning and associative learning can also be modulated by sex hormones (Graham & Milad, 2013).…”

Adding imagery rescripting during extinction leads to less ABA renewal

“…The BAI and STAI were administered to ensure that the trait and state level of anxiety were similar across the experimental groups as this can effect fear learning (see for a review, Bishop, 2007). The QMI was administered as individuals with high imagination ability might respond better to IR (but see Hunt & Fenton, 2007).…”

“…Arntz et al have hypothesized that Imagery Rescripting (IR) might act through US revaluation (Arntz, in press;Arntz, Tiesema, & Kindt, 2007;Arntz & Weertman, 1999). This technique has been successfully applied in a variety of anxiety-related disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (e.g., Arntz et al, 2007), social phobia (e.g, Wild, Hackmann, & Clark, 2007), and specific phobias (see for an overview Holmes, Arntz, & Smucker, 2007;Hunt & Fenton, 2007). During IR patients are asked to activate the memory of an aversive event and to mentally rescript it into another more neutral or positive image.…”

Imagery rescripting in cognitive behaviour therapy: Images, treatment techniques and outcomes

“…Hunt and Fenton (2007) directly contrast in vivo (rather than imaginal) exposure with imagery rescripting (another form of IR ''Type A'') in an elegant experimental study with participants who have snake phobias. This indicates that imagery rescripting may be particularly powerful for specific fears when followed by brief in vivo exposure therapy.…”