Imagery Rescripting Versus Cognitive Restructuring for Social Anxiety: Treatment Effects and Working Mechanisms.

ABSTRACT:

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 symptom

SUBMITTER: Strohm M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9667234 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature