Enhancing future-directed thinking in people with first-episode psychosis using a guided imagery intervention

<strong>Background and objectives<br></strong> Future-directed thinking (FDT) is associated with goal directed behaviour and may differ in people with psychosis compared to non-clinical controls. This study investigated whether guided imagery could enhance positive FDT in people wi...

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Main Authors: Smith, K, Goodby, E, Hales, S, Johns, L
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022
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author Smith, K
Goodby, E
Hales, S
Johns, L
author_facet Smith, K
Goodby, E
Hales, S
Johns, L
author_sort Smith, K
collection OXFORD
description <strong>Background and objectives<br></strong> Future-directed thinking (FDT) is associated with goal directed behaviour and may differ in people with psychosis compared to non-clinical controls. This study investigated whether guided imagery could enhance positive FDT in people with psychosis. <br><strong> Method<br></strong> Participants were 44 people experiencing a first episode of psychosis. They were assessed for negative and positive symptoms, FDT on the Future Thinking Task (FTT), depression, anxiety, autobiographical memory, verbal fluency and spontaneous use of imagery. They were randomised to either a positive or neutral imagery condition, before being retested on the FTT. Outcomes on the FTT were number of events generated, anticipated likelihood, anticipated affect and a composite score. <br><strong> Results<br></strong> Participants in the positive imagery condition generated significantly more positive events on the FTT compared with those in the neutral (F (1, 42) = 19.916, p < .001, ηp2 = 0.322). In both imagery conditions, likelihood ratings of positive events increased post-intervention. Positive and negative events were both perceived as less likely to occur the further into the future they were, and positive events were anticipated to be more positive and negative events more negative, the further into the future they were. <br><strong> Limitations<br></strong> The participants in this study experienced relatively low levels of symptoms, and therefore caution should be used when applying these results to people with greater symptomatology. <br><strong> Conclusions<br></strong> Positive guided imagery shows promise for enhancing positive FDT in people with first-episode psychosis. This intervention may offer a simple and effective method of enhancing engagement with the future, with potential implications for goal-directed behaviour.
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spelling oxford-uuid:6b0adb59-3fd4-402e-b916-f09ac9bd2e192024-03-15T11:57:05ZEnhancing future-directed thinking in people with first-episode psychosis using a guided imagery interventionJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:6b0adb59-3fd4-402e-b916-f09ac9bd2e19EnglishSymplectic ElementsElsevier2022Smith, KGoodby, EHales, SJohns, L<strong>Background and objectives<br></strong> Future-directed thinking (FDT) is associated with goal directed behaviour and may differ in people with psychosis compared to non-clinical controls. This study investigated whether guided imagery could enhance positive FDT in people with psychosis. <br><strong> Method<br></strong> Participants were 44 people experiencing a first episode of psychosis. They were assessed for negative and positive symptoms, FDT on the Future Thinking Task (FTT), depression, anxiety, autobiographical memory, verbal fluency and spontaneous use of imagery. They were randomised to either a positive or neutral imagery condition, before being retested on the FTT. Outcomes on the FTT were number of events generated, anticipated likelihood, anticipated affect and a composite score. <br><strong> Results<br></strong> Participants in the positive imagery condition generated significantly more positive events on the FTT compared with those in the neutral (F (1, 42) = 19.916, p < .001, ηp2 = 0.322). In both imagery conditions, likelihood ratings of positive events increased post-intervention. Positive and negative events were both perceived as less likely to occur the further into the future they were, and positive events were anticipated to be more positive and negative events more negative, the further into the future they were. <br><strong> Limitations<br></strong> The participants in this study experienced relatively low levels of symptoms, and therefore caution should be used when applying these results to people with greater symptomatology. <br><strong> Conclusions<br></strong> Positive guided imagery shows promise for enhancing positive FDT in people with first-episode psychosis. This intervention may offer a simple and effective method of enhancing engagement with the future, with potential implications for goal-directed behaviour.
spellingShingle Smith, K
Goodby, E
Hales, S
Johns, L
Enhancing future-directed thinking in people with first-episode psychosis using a guided imagery intervention
title Enhancing future-directed thinking in people with first-episode psychosis using a guided imagery intervention
title_full Enhancing future-directed thinking in people with first-episode psychosis using a guided imagery intervention
title_fullStr Enhancing future-directed thinking in people with first-episode psychosis using a guided imagery intervention
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing future-directed thinking in people with first-episode psychosis using a guided imagery intervention
title_short Enhancing future-directed thinking in people with first-episode psychosis using a guided imagery intervention
title_sort enhancing future directed thinking in people with first episode psychosis using a guided imagery intervention
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AT johnsl enhancingfuturedirectedthinkinginpeoplewithfirstepisodepsychosisusingaguidedimageryintervention