Rescripting Social Trauma: A Pilot Study Investigating Imagery Rescripting as an Adjunct to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder

Norton, AR; Abbott, MJ; Dobinson, KA; Pepper, KL; Guastella, AJ

Rescripting Social Trauma: A Pilot Study Investigating Imagery Rescripting as an Adjunct to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder

Norton, AR Abbott, MJ Dobinson, KA Pepper, KL Guastella, AJ

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Publisher:: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Cognitive Therapy and Research, 2021, 45, (6), pp. 1180-1192
Issue Date:: 2021-12-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Norton, AR
dc.contributor.author	Abbott, MJ
dc.contributor.author	Dobinson, KA
dc.contributor.author	Pepper, KL
dc.contributor.author	Guastella, AJ
dc.date.accessioned	2022-01-25T02:22:31Z
dc.date.available	2022-01-25T02:22:31Z
dc.date.issued	2021-12-01
dc.identifier.citation	Cognitive Therapy and Research, 2021, 45, (6), pp. 1180-1192
dc.identifier.issn	0147-5916
dc.identifier.issn	1573-2819
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/153548
dc.description.abstract	Background: The current pilot study aimed to investigate the benefit of imagery rescripting (IR) as an adjunct to Group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (GCBT) for SAD, given recent research suggesting that IR is beneficial in the treatment of social anxiety disorder (SAD). Methods: Fifteen participants with SAD completed eight sessions of GCBT and two additional individual sessions of IR to address negative meanings embedded in memories of traumatic social experiences. Results: As expected, participants reported significant reductions in fear of negative evaluation and identification of negative core beliefs as valid/accurate over the course of the two session IR intervention. Moreover, IR yielded significant improvements in negative affect and maladaptive appraisals associated with self-imagery and aversive memories, as well as depressive symptoms. However, unexpectedly, IR did not yield significant additive reductions in social anxiety symptoms over and above GCBT. Discussion: Results indicate that IR appears to be a beneficial adjunct to GCBT, and lack of improvement in social anxiety symptoms across IR sessions may be due to methodological limitations. Outcomes suggest that IR may also benefit patients with comorbid depression, given high rates of comorbid unipolar depression for people with SAD, presenting an exciting area for further investigation. Conclusions: Taken together, findings suggest that IR may be a valuable adjunct to GCBT for SAD, especially among patients with comorbid unipolar depression. However, further research including a follow up period is indicated.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Springer Science and Business Media LLC
dc.relation.ispartof	Cognitive Therapy and Research
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1007/s10608-021-10221-9
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights	This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in [Cognitive Therapy and Research, 2021, 45, (6), pp. 1180-1192]. Publication date 01 Dec 2021The final authenticated version is available online at: [ https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10608-021-10221-9]”
dc.subject	1701 Psychology, 1702 Cognitive Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Clinical Psychology
dc.title	Rescripting Social Trauma: A Pilot Study Investigating Imagery Rescripting as an Adjunct to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	45
utslib.for	1701 Psychology
utslib.for	1702 Cognitive Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health/GSH.Clinical Psychology
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2022-01-25T02:22:29Z
pubs.issue	6
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	45
utslib.citation.issue	6

Abstract:

Background: The current pilot study aimed to investigate the benefit of imagery rescripting (IR) as an adjunct to Group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (GCBT) for SAD, given recent research suggesting that IR is beneficial in the treatment of social anxiety disorder (SAD). Methods: Fifteen participants with SAD completed eight sessions of GCBT and two additional individual sessions of IR to address negative meanings embedded in memories of traumatic social experiences. Results: As expected, participants reported significant reductions in fear of negative evaluation and identification of negative core beliefs as valid/accurate over the course of the two session IR intervention. Moreover, IR yielded significant improvements in negative affect and maladaptive appraisals associated with self-imagery and aversive memories, as well as depressive symptoms. However, unexpectedly, IR did not yield significant additive reductions in social anxiety symptoms over and above GCBT. Discussion: Results indicate that IR appears to be a beneficial adjunct to GCBT, and lack of improvement in social anxiety symptoms across IR sessions may be due to methodological limitations. Outcomes suggest that IR may also benefit patients with comorbid depression, given high rates of comorbid unipolar depression for people with SAD, presenting an exciting area for further investigation. Conclusions: Taken together, findings suggest that IR may be a valuable adjunct to GCBT for SAD, especially among patients with comorbid unipolar depression. However, further research including a follow up period is indicated.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/153548