Feasibility of computerised positive mental imagery training as a treatment adjunct in in-patient mental health settings: randomised controlled trial
Background Positive affect and anhedonia are important but challenging targets for mental health treatments. Previous research indicates the potential of a computerised cognitive training paradigm involving generation of positive mental imagery, termed positive mental imagery training (PMIT), to inc...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2021-11-01
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| Series: | BJPsych Open |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472421010425/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1811156974750924800 |
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| author | Katharina Westermann Marcella L. Woud Jan C. Cwik Christian Graz Peter W. Nyhuis Jürgen Margraf Simon E. Blackwell |
| author_facet | Katharina Westermann Marcella L. Woud Jan C. Cwik Christian Graz Peter W. Nyhuis Jürgen Margraf Simon E. Blackwell |
| author_sort | Katharina Westermann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background
Positive affect and anhedonia are important but challenging targets for mental health treatments. Previous research indicates the potential of a computerised cognitive training paradigm involving generation of positive mental imagery, termed positive mental imagery training (PMIT), to increase positive affect and reduce anhedonia.
Aims
Our main aim was to investigate the feasibility of PMIT as a positive affect-focused, transdiagnostic adjunct to treatment as usual for patients in in-patient mental health settings.
Method
We ran an open feasibility, randomised controlled trial with three parallel arms: treatment as usual; treatment as usual plus PMIT; and treatment as usual plus an active comparator, cognitive control training. Fifty-seven patients from two different in-patient mental health treatment clinics in Germany were randomised in a 1:1:1 ratio. PMIT and cognitive control training comprised an introductory session followed by eight 15-min training sessions over 2 weeks. Clinical outcomes such as positive affect (primary outcome measure) and anhedonia were assessed at pre- and post-training, and at a further 2-week follow-up.
Results
Adherence was good and attrition was low. The patterns of results for the outcome data were not consistent with a specific effect of PMIT on positive affect, but were more consistent with a specific effect on anhedonia.
Conclusions
The results indicate feasibility and potential promise of a larger efficacy trial investigating PMIT as a treatment adjunct in in-patient mental health settings. Limitations include lack of researcher blinding, small sample size and lack of pre-specified feasibility outcomes. Anhedonia may be a more suitable primary outcome for a future larger trial.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:59:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f33b144385614aa08bc65b11b9ef8f53 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2056-4724 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:59:43Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BJPsych Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-f33b144385614aa08bc65b11b9ef8f532023-03-09T12:29:17ZengCambridge University PressBJPsych Open2056-47242021-11-01710.1192/bjo.2021.1042Feasibility of computerised positive mental imagery training as a treatment adjunct in in-patient mental health settings: randomised controlled trialKatharina Westermann0Marcella L. Woud1Jan C. Cwik2Christian Graz3Peter W. Nyhuis4Jürgen Margraf5Simon E. Blackwell6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3313-7084Mental Health Research and Treatment Center, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, GermanyMental Health Research and Treatment Center, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, GermanyInstitute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, GermanyPsychosomatic Department, Max Grundig Clinic, GermanySt. Marien Hospital Eickel, GermanyMental Health Research and Treatment Center, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, GermanyMental Health Research and Treatment Center, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, GermanyBackground Positive affect and anhedonia are important but challenging targets for mental health treatments. Previous research indicates the potential of a computerised cognitive training paradigm involving generation of positive mental imagery, termed positive mental imagery training (PMIT), to increase positive affect and reduce anhedonia. Aims Our main aim was to investigate the feasibility of PMIT as a positive affect-focused, transdiagnostic adjunct to treatment as usual for patients in in-patient mental health settings. Method We ran an open feasibility, randomised controlled trial with three parallel arms: treatment as usual; treatment as usual plus PMIT; and treatment as usual plus an active comparator, cognitive control training. Fifty-seven patients from two different in-patient mental health treatment clinics in Germany were randomised in a 1:1:1 ratio. PMIT and cognitive control training comprised an introductory session followed by eight 15-min training sessions over 2 weeks. Clinical outcomes such as positive affect (primary outcome measure) and anhedonia were assessed at pre- and post-training, and at a further 2-week follow-up. Results Adherence was good and attrition was low. The patterns of results for the outcome data were not consistent with a specific effect of PMIT on positive affect, but were more consistent with a specific effect on anhedonia. Conclusions The results indicate feasibility and potential promise of a larger efficacy trial investigating PMIT as a treatment adjunct in in-patient mental health settings. Limitations include lack of researcher blinding, small sample size and lack of pre-specified feasibility outcomes. Anhedonia may be a more suitable primary outcome for a future larger trial. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472421010425/type/journal_articlePositive mental imageryanhedoniapositive affectcognitive bias modificationcognitive control training |
| spellingShingle | Katharina Westermann Marcella L. Woud Jan C. Cwik Christian Graz Peter W. Nyhuis Jürgen Margraf Simon E. Blackwell Feasibility of computerised positive mental imagery training as a treatment adjunct in in-patient mental health settings: randomised controlled trial BJPsych Open Positive mental imagery anhedonia positive affect cognitive bias modification cognitive control training |
| title | Feasibility of computerised positive mental imagery training as a treatment adjunct in in-patient mental health settings: randomised controlled trial |
| title_full | Feasibility of computerised positive mental imagery training as a treatment adjunct in in-patient mental health settings: randomised controlled trial |
| title_fullStr | Feasibility of computerised positive mental imagery training as a treatment adjunct in in-patient mental health settings: randomised controlled trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feasibility of computerised positive mental imagery training as a treatment adjunct in in-patient mental health settings: randomised controlled trial |
| title_short | Feasibility of computerised positive mental imagery training as a treatment adjunct in in-patient mental health settings: randomised controlled trial |
| title_sort | feasibility of computerised positive mental imagery training as a treatment adjunct in in patient mental health settings randomised controlled trial |
| topic | Positive mental imagery anhedonia positive affect cognitive bias modification cognitive control training |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472421010425/type/journal_article |
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