Imagery Rescripting

Imagery rescripting is a psychological intervention that targets distressing memories by helping individuals vividly imagine and alter the course or outcome of these memories in a therapeutic context. Through guided imagery, patients revisit problematic or traumatic experiences and then actively modify elements of the memory - such as introducing protective figures or changing the narrative - to fulfil unmet emotional needs and foster new, adaptive perspectives.  

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The evidence for imagery rescripting is robust and growing, especially for disorders rooted in aversive or traumatic memories. Recent meta-analyses and systematic reviews consistently reveal that imagery rescripting is effective in reducing symptoms across a range of mental health conditions, including - social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bulimia nervosa, obsessive-compulsive disorder, nightmare disorder, test anxiety, health anxiety, and generalised anxiety disorder.  Randomised controlled trials have shown that the technique delivers comparable benefits to traditional evidence-based interventions and, in some cases, offers additional advantages when patients have not adequately responded to conventional methods.  

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Research also suggests that imagery rescripting elicits strong emotional and physiological responses, with brain activation during imagery closely mirroring actual experiences, potentially enhancing therapeutic impact. While further studies are needed to refine techniques and understand underlying mechanisms, imagery rescripting is recognised as a promising, evidence-based approach for treating distress associated with aversive memories.  ​​​