Imaging ability and effective use of guided imagery

Imaging ability, the ability to generate mental images and become absorbed in them as if they were real, is proposed as a moderator in the relationship between guided imagery and symptom relief. Two existing measures of image generation, Marks's (1973) Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire and Betts's (1909) shortened Questionnaire Upon Mental Imagery (Sheehan, 1967), and one measure of absorption, Tellegen's Absorption scale (1993; TAS) were completed by 60 graduate students prior to listening to a guided imagery intervention to relieve anxiety associated with an upcoming stressful task. Analyses were conducted using data from 30 participants (7 men and 23 women) who reported an increase in anxiety level after learning of the stressful task. Participants were divided into two groups, successful (n=21) and unsuccessful (n=9) users of imagery, based on change in anxiety scores after listening to the guided imagery intervention. Absorption (TAS) scores were significantly higher for persons in the successful group; there were no differences in image generation scores. Two TAS items were identified as potential predictors of success with guided imagery. Findings may be helpful in developing a clinically useful instrument to predict likelihood of success with guided imagery in relieving cancer pain and its distress.