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Targeting intrusive imagery using a competing task technique: a case study.

Lalitha Iyadurai1, Susie A Hales2, Simon E Blackwell3

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy
|June 30, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

A simple computer game technique effectively reduced intrusive mental images and associated distress in a patient with bipolar disorder and PTSD. This cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) intervention shows promise for managing distressing imagery.

Keywords:
PTSDanxietybipolar disordercognitive scienceimagery-focused cognitive therapyintrusionsmental imagerysingle-case experimental design

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Intrusive mental images are a significant factor in psychopathology, driving emotional distress.
  • Cognitive science posits that competing tasks can effectively target intrusive imagery.
  • Simple techniques can be valuable for managing specific symptoms, even in complex cases.

Observation:

  • A single case study explored an imagery competing task using Tetris gameplay within cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
  • The intervention was applied to target a specific intrusive image and manage multiple daily intrusive images.
  • The patient had co-occurring bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.

Findings:

  • Targeting a specific image led to significant reductions in vividness (80% to 40%) and distress (70% to 0%).
  • Intrusion frequency decreased from daily to twice weekly for the targeted image.
  • Weekly management of multiple images showed reductions in vividness (38%), realness (66%), compellingness (23%), and PTSD symptoms (26.33 to 4.83).

Implications:

  • This low-intensity intervention offers a complementary tool for cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
  • Directly targeting intrusive mental imagery can be an effective strategy for symptom management.
  • The technique shows potential for managing both specific and multiple intrusive images in clinical practice.