Do therapeutic imagery practices affect physiological and emotional indicators of threat in high self-critics?
Journal article
Authors | Duarte, Joana, McEwan, Kirsten, Barnes, Christopher, Gilbert, Paul and Maratos, Frances A. |
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Abstract | Objectives: Imagery is known to be a powerful means of stimulating various physiological processes and is increasingly used within standard psychological therapies. Compassion-focused imagery (CFI) has been used to stimulate affiliative emotion in people with mental health problems. However, evidence suggests that self-critical individuals may have particular difficulties in this domain with single trials. The aim of the present study was to further investigate the role of self-criticism in responsiveness to CFI by specifically pre-selecting participants based on trait self-criticism. Design: Using the Forms of Self-Criticism/Self-Reassuring Scale, 29 individuals from a total sample of 139 were pre-selected to determine how self-criticism impacts upon an initial instance of imagery. Methods: All participants took part in three activities: a control imagery intervention (useable data N = 25), a standard CFI intervention (useable data N = 25), and a non-intervention control (useable data N = 24). Physiological measurements (alpha amylase) as well as questionnaire measures of emotional responding (i.e., the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, the Types of Positive Affect Scale, and the State Adult Attachment Scale) were taken before and after the different interventions. Results: Following both imagery interventions, repeated measures analyses revealed that alpha amylase increased significantly for high self-critics compared with low self-critics. High self-critics (HSC) also reported greater insecurity on entering the imagery session and more negative CFI experiences compared with low self-critics. Practitioner Points: Data demonstrate that HSC respond negatively to imagery interventions in a single trial. This highlights that imagery focused therapies (e.g., CFI) need interventions that manage fears, blocks, and resistances to the techniques, particularly in HSC. An initial instance of imagery (e.g., CFI) can be frightening for people who have a tendency to be self-critical. |
Keywords | alpha amylase; imagery; compassion-focused imagery (CFI); self-criticism; threat; well-being; qnxious responding |
Year | 2015 |
Journal | Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice |
Publisher | Wiley |
ISSN | 1476-0835 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1111/papt.12043 |
Web address (URL) | http://hdl.handle.net/10545/621100 |
hdl:10545/621100 | |
http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84939474338&partnerID=MN8TOARS | |
http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/papt.12043 | |
Publication dates | Sep 2015 |
Publication process dates | |
Deposited | 02 Dec 2016 |
Rights | Archived with thanks to Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice |
Contributors | University of Coimbra, University of Derby, Cardiff University, Cognitive and Behavioural Centre for Research and Intervention; University of Coimbra; Portugal, Institute of Primary Care and Population Health; School of Medicine; Cardiff University; Wales UK, Department of Psychology; College of Life and Natural Sciences; University of Derby; UK, Department of Psychology; College of Life and Natural Sciences; University of Derby; UK and Department of Psychology; College of Life and Natural Sciences; University of Derby; UK |
File | File Access Level Open |
File | File Access Level Open |
https://repository.derby.ac.uk/item/938zy/do-therapeutic-imagery-practices-affect-physiological-and-emotional-indicators-of-threat-in-high-self-critics
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