A pilot study of imagery rescripting for survivor guilt after trauma
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A pilot study on the effectiveness of brief imagery rescripting as a therapeutic technique for people that experience survivor guilt after a traumatic event.
IRAS ID
144830
Contact name
Evelina Medin
Contact email
Research summary
The term survivor guilt refers to feelings of guilt and/or shame about surviving a trauma in which others died. Survivor guilt is common in people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) but little research has been carried out on the treatment of survivor guilt.
Distressing mental images are a key feature of PTSD. Imagery rescripting is a relatively new therapeutic technique that involves mental manipulation of distressing images. Research shows that therapies that include imagery rescripting are effective for people with PTSD. However, imagery rescripting has not been investigated as a separate therapy technique and it has not been used to treat feelings of survivor guilt.
The stand-alone effect of imagery rescripting as a therapy technique has been investigated for other mental health problems. Wild, Hackmann and Clark (2008) showed that brief imagery rescripting can be helpful for people that experience social anxiety.
The proposed study investigates the effectiveness of imagery rescripting as a two-session therapy for people that experience survivor guilt. The study uses a similar methodology to Wild et al. (2008).
Participants will be recruited from the Traumatic Stress Service at Springfield University Hospital between April 2014 – April 2015. English-speaking clients that meet criteria for PTSD and experience survivor guilt are eligible to take part in the study.
Participation in the study involves meeting with a therapist at the Traumatic Stress Service on three occasions over a three week period. Participants will be asked to complete several questionnaires and undergo two sessions of imagery intervention: one exposure-based session and one imagery rescripting session. These sessions involve describing and making changes to distressing mental images.
The specific research questions are:
(1) Is imagery rescripting an effective technique to treat feelings of survivor guilt after trauma?
(2) Does the effect of imagery rescripting extend beyond the effects of image exposure?REC name
London - Dulwich Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0192
Date of REC Opinion
25 Mar 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion