The Effect of Two Script-Driven Imagery Procedures on Fear Expression in Survivors of a Stressful Event

In PTSD research, script-driven imagery procedures are used to induce fear expression in traumatized participants but no consensus on a standard script for research has been established yet. This study fills a research gap by being the first to directly compare two contemporary imagery script procedures to evaluate their feasibility. We hypothesized an audio-scripted imagery procedure to lead to higher fear expression (heart rate, skin conductance, subjective distress) than an imagery-only script. A moderating effect of the vividness of the stressful memory on fear expression was also hypothesized. In a between-subjects design, participants (N = 37) were sorted into two conditions and were interviewed regarding a stressful life experience. Fear expression was measured during baseline and imagery. Contrary to expectations, both procedures led to a similar increase in fear expression. Crucially, the audio-scripted imagery procedure might be especially effective for participants with a...Show moreIn PTSD research, script-driven imagery procedures are used to induce fear expression in traumatized participants but no consensus on a standard script for research has been established yet. This study fills a research gap by being the first to directly compare two contemporary imagery script procedures to evaluate their feasibility. We hypothesized an audio-scripted imagery procedure to lead to higher fear expression (heart rate, skin conductance, subjective distress) than an imagery-only script. A moderating effect of the vividness of the stressful memory on fear expression was also hypothesized. In a between-subjects design, participants (N = 37) were sorted into two conditions and were interviewed regarding a stressful life experience. Fear expression was measured during baseline and imagery. Contrary to expectations, both procedures led to a similar increase in fear expression. Crucially, the audio-scripted imagery procedure might be especially effective for participants with a high baseline vividness of the stressful memory which has implications for future PTSD research. Upcoming studies should investigate changes to the script procedures to facilitate comparison between scripts and further explore the effect of script procedures on high-vividness participants.Show less

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The Effect of Two Script-Driven Imagery Procedures on Fear Expression in Survivors of a Stressful Event