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Updated: Dec 6, 2025

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder
Published on: March 8, 2018
Treatment of survivor guilt after trauma using imagery rescripting: a proof-of-concept study
Hannah Murray1, Evelina Medin2, Gary Brown2
1Traumatic Stress Service, South West London and St Georges NHS Trust, Building 2, Springfield University Hospital, 61 Glenburnie Road, Tooting, LondonSW17 7DJ, UK.
Abstract:
Survivor guilt can arise after surviving a trauma in which others die. No studies have systematically investigated psychological treatment for survivor guilt. The present study was a proof-of-concept investigation of treatment of survivor guilt using imagery rescripting. Thirteen participants with post-traumatic stress disorder and self-reported survivor guilt attended two consecutive imagery therapy sessions, to first elaborate and then rescript related imagery. Significant improvements were observed on idiographic process measures of cognitons, emotions and distress related to survivor guilt following the rescripting session. The study provides preliminary evidence that imagery rescripting can be used as an experiential technique to treat survivor guilt.
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