Imagery-Enhanced Cognitive Restructuring of Hostile Beliefs: A Narrative Description

Martijn W. Van Teffelen*, Marisol J. Voncken, Frenk Peeters, Eline D. Mollema, Jill Lobbestael

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Cognitive restructuring (CR) is an efficacious intervention for reducing transdiagnostic hostility. However, evidence suggests that the efficacy of CR can be further improved. A promising candidate for improving the efficacy of CR is mental imagery. Previous work showed that enriching CR with mental imagery (I-CR) increased its efficacy in terms of reducing hostile beliefs and aggressive inclinations. In this article, we describe the rationale of the I-CR procedure, how to use it, and illustrate it with case examples. Our clinical experience underlines that imagery seems to capture both the hostile as well as helpful thoughts in a more effective way than verbal formulations. Future studies need to explore whether using this protocol is helpful for patients with clinical levels of hostility.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)625-634
Number of pages10
JournalCognitive and Behavioral Practice
Volume29
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2022

Keywords

  • mental imagery
  • cognitive restructuring
  • hostility
  • POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER
  • BEHAVIORAL GROUP-THERAPY
  • SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER
  • ANGER
  • MEMORIES
  • AGGRESSION
  • DIAGNOSIS
  • EFFICACY
  • EMOTION

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