Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2026
09:55
Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder
Published on: March 8, 2018
Imagery rescripting for psychological disorder following cancer: a case study
Katriina L Whitaker1, Chris R Brewin, Maggie Watson
1Department of Psychological Medicine, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey, UK. k.whitaker@ucl.ac.uk
British Journal of Health Psychology
|March 28, 2009
Summary
Imagery rescripting therapy effectively reduced intrusive memories and psychological distress in a cancer patient. These positive outcomes were sustained at 3- and 6-month follow-ups, showing promise for medical populations.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Oncology
- Trauma Studies
Background:
- Intrusive memories are common in cancer patients, contributing to psychological distress and poor adjustment.
- Imagery rescripting (IR) is a therapeutic technique proven effective for intrusive memories in other conditions like depression.
Observation:
- This study details the initial application of imagery rescripting as a standalone therapy for a cancer patient experiencing intrusive memories.
Findings:
- Imagery rescripting led to significant decreases in the negative impact of intrusive memories.
- The therapy also resulted in substantial reductions in psychological distress.
- These benefits were maintained at 3- and 6-month follow-up assessments.
Implications:
- Imagery rescripting demonstrates potential as a valuable intervention for medical patients facing intrusive memories.
- This approach may help improve psychological well-being and adjustment in cancer survivors.
- Further research into IR's efficacy in diverse medical populations is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Classification of Illness
The meaning of illness is individualized to each person who experiences an alteration in health. In contrast, disease is a medical term indicating a pathological change in the structure and function of the body or mind. It is a condition that has specific symptoms and boundaries.
An illness is a response to a disease in which the person's level of functioning is changed compared with a previous level. The general classification of illness includes acute and chronic.
Acute illness is severe and...
An illness is a response to a disease in which the person's level of functioning is changed compared with a previous level. The general classification of illness includes acute and chronic.
Acute illness is severe and...
01:26Modeling in Therapy
Modeling, a key technique in therapy, uses observational learning to help clients acquire and practice new skills by watching therapists demonstrate desired behaviors. This approach, rooted in Albert Bandura's concept of vicarious learning, plays a significant role in therapeutic interventions for various psychological conditions, including social anxiety, ADHD, and depression.
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
02:49Cancer Therapies
Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
01:29Magical Thinking
Magical thinking encompasses the belief in assumptions that defy logical reasoning yet appear intuitively convincing. It is a common psychological phenomenon that persists across various cultural and individual contexts. While these assumptions contradict empirical evidence and scientific laws, they often serve meaningful psychological roles in promoting emotional resilience and a sense of control, especially under stress or uncertainty.Thought-Action Fusion and the Law of SimilarityA key...
01:25Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive therapy, pioneered by Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s, is a structured approach to addressing psychological distress by focusing on the influence of thoughts on emotions and behaviors. All cognitive therapies involve the basic assumption that human beings have control over their feelings, and that how individuals feel about something depends on how they think about it. Unlike psychoanalytic methods that delve into unconscious processes or humanistic approaches emphasizing...
02:56Treatment Resistant Cancers
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...