Imagine yourself as a little girl…—efficacy and psychophysiology of imagery techniques targeting adverse autobiographical childhood experiences- multi-arm randomised controlled trial
Imagine yourself as a little girl…—efficacy and psychophysiology of imagery techniques targeting adverse autobiographical childhood experiences- multi-arm randomised controlled trial
StatusVoR
Alternative title
Authors
Bączek, Julia
Michałowski, Jarosław
Karkosz, Stanisław
Pietruch, Magdalena
Szymański, Robert
Monograph
Monograph (alternative title)
Date
2026-01-16
Publisher
Journal title
Frontiers in Psychology
Issue
Volume
16
Pages
Pages
1-33
ISSN
1664-1078
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Weblink
Access date
2026-01-25
Abstract PL
Abstract EN
Fear of failure is often rooted in highly self-critical autobiographical memories that elicit persistent distress and avoidance. Imagery-based interventions aim to reduce the impact of such memories, yet their mechanisms of action remain unclear. In this three-arm parallel group randomised controlled trial, 180 young adults with elevated fear of failure were randomly assigned to imagery exposure, standard imagery rescripting, or imagery rescripting with a 10-min delay designed to disrupt memory reconsolidation. Across four sessions delivered over 2 weeks, outcomes were assessed using self-report measures and physiological markers, with follow-ups at 3 and 6 months. All interventions led to significant and sustained reductions in negative emotions, arousal, and fear of failure, as well as decreased physiological reactivity to autobiographical memories of criticism. Contrary to predictions, delayed rescripting did not show superiority, while planned contrasts suggested more consistent benefits of standard rescripting compared to delayed rescripting and a rebound effect after exposure. Notably, prediction error, operationalised as transient increases in physiological arousal during rescripting, predicted stronger therapeutic change in rescripting but not in exposure. These findings demonstrate that both common therapeutic factors and prediction error contribute to durable improvements in emotional responses to adverse memories, advancing the understanding of mechanisms underlying imagery-based techniques.
Clinical trials registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT07048756, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT07048756.
Abstract other
Keywords PL
Keywords EN
imagery rescripting
imagery exposure
memory reconsolidation
prediction error
skin conductance level
salivary alpha-amylase
fear of failure
randomised controlled trial
imagery exposure
memory reconsolidation
prediction error
skin conductance level
salivary alpha-amylase
fear of failure
randomised controlled trial
Keywords other
Sustainable Development Goals
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Jak zwiększyć skuteczność działania psychoterapeutycznych technik wyobrażeniowych?
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