Positive Affect and Mental Imagery in the Process of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (PACIfIC)

Ulrike Willutzki

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Mental Disorders

Treatments: Behavioral: Cognitive behavioral therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03767101

128/2018

Details and patient eligibility

About

Background: Research findings suggested that people with mental disorders show a dysfunctional upregulation of negative affect (NA) but at the same time a dysfunctional downregulation of positive affect (PA) as distinct processes. Nevertheless, established treatment approaches focus on the modification of problems and negative affect only. Experimental paradigms with healthy and subclinical populations showed that PA inductions lead to higher flexibility in information processing, cognitive appraisal and action tendencies. Higher amounts of PA were associated with more personal resources, higher psychological resilience and subjective well-being. Preliminary evidence indicated that a focus on positive and functional aspects in the life of patients lead to better treatment sessions and outcome. However, the role of PA for the process in cognitive behavioral therapy remains unclear.

Method/Design: In regard to this we developed the PACIfIC-study, serving the following objectives:

(1) to explore the trajectories of PA and NA and their association with relevant process variables in an early phase of CBT treatment. (2) To develop and test the feasibility of a brief and easily implementable intervention to promote PA in psychotherapy sessions. (3) To analyze the impact of this intervention on the therapeutic process between and within CBT sessions and intermediate outcomes.

The study includes a randomized contolled, longitudinal design in an outpatient research and treatment center. Both a process and an intervention analysis will be conducted. In the process analysis, we will examine the course of PA and NA in the first twelve sessions of CBT treatments. In the intervention analysis, we will examine the effects of a six-minute positive mental imagery intervention during an early phase of psychotherapy. The aim of this micro-intervention is to foster patients' in-session PA, which may lead to increased levels of subjective resources, resilience, and self-esteem (theory-driven outcome) as well as improvements in psychopathology and working alliance (secondary outcome).

Discussion: The study results may have important theoretical and practical implications on the use of PA in psychotherapeutic treatment. Furthermore an economic implementation of strengths-oriented interventions in psychotherapy practice may be initiated.

Enrollment: 120 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• at least one mental disorder according to DSM-5 criteria
• treatment at the center of Mental Health and Psychotherapy, Witten/Herdecke University; outpatients clinic

Exclusion criteria

• current diagnosis of a severe episode of major depressive disorder
• suffering from a psychotic disorder
• suffering from substance use disorder
• current episode of (hypo)mania
• current suicidal risk
• extensive experiences with guided mental imagery intervention
• insufficient German language skills
• currently receiving another psychological treatment

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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120 participants in 3 patient groups

TAU + Positive mental imagery

Experimental group

Description:

In all conditions the first eight sessions of treatment are focused. All sessions start with a brief, audio-tape presented positive mental imagery intervention (duration about six minutes). In this intervention patients are guided to imagine a happy, positive situation within the last seven days. Patients get the instruction to imagine from a field perspective, exploring various sensory modalities and feelings in that specific moment. Patients perform this task in the rooms of the treatment center together with their therapists. The text of the mental imagery intervention is standardized and spoken by Prof. Dr. Ulrike Willutzki. Directly before and after the imagination patients are asked on their mood with a single-item. After the short intervention patients are instructed to communicated the content of their imagination with their therapists for about one minute. After completion the regular cognitive behavioral therapy session begins.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cognitive behavioral therapy

TAU + Neutral mental imagery

Active Comparator group

Description:

In all conditions the first eight sessions of treatment are focused. All sessions start with a brief, audio-tape presented neutral mental imagery intervention (duration about six minutes). In this intervention patients are guided to imagine a all-day, non-emotional provoking situation within the last seven days. Patients get the instruction to imagine from a field perspective, exploring various sensory modalities in that specific moment. Patients perform this task in the rooms of the treatment center together with their therapists. The text of the mental imagery intervention is standardized and spoken by Prof. Dr. Ulrike Willutzki. Directly before and after the imagination patients are asked on their mood with a single-item. After the short intervention patients are instructed to communicated the content of their imagination with their therapists for about one minute. After completion the regular cognitive behavioral therapy session begins.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cognitive behavioral therapy

Treatment as usual

Other group

Description:

In all conditions the first eight sessions of treatment are focused. No additional intervention is conducted at the start of therapy sessions. Standard cognitive behavioral therapy is conducted during the whole treatment sessions.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cognitive behavioral therapy