Compassion-focused imagery reduces shame and is moderated by shame, selfreassurance and multisensory imagery vividness

Compassion-focused imagery (CFI) is an emotion-regulation technique involving visualization of a person, animal or object offering one compassion, to generate feelings of safeness. It is proven to increase self-compassion and reduce negative affect. This study explores two hypotheses not previously investigated: i) which sensory modalities can stimulate compassionate affect; and ii) whether presentation of pictorial stimuli can enhance CFI. Additionally, we examine iii) whether CFI can reduce shame and iv) whether self-criticism inhibits CFI, since previous studies have involved small samples or methodological limitations. After completing measures of self-criticism, self-reassurance and imagery abilities in five sensory modalities, participants (n=160) were randomly assigned to look at compassionate images during CFI (visual input), compassionate images before CFI (priming), or abstract images (control). Participants trialled CFI then rated compassionate affect and completed open-response questions. Before and after CFI, participants recalled a shame-based memory and rated state shame. Correlational analyses explored whether self-criticism, self-reassurance, and multisensory imagery abilities moderated outcomes. CFI significantly reduced shame regarding a recalled memory, particularly for those high in shame. Compassionate affect was predicted by imagery vividness in visual and bodilysensation modalities. Self-criticism predicted poorer CFI outcomes, but not after controlling for self-reassurance. Between-group effects did not emerge. Qualitative data suggested that pictures helped some participants but hindered others. CFI is a promising technique for shame-prone clients, but may be challenging for those with low imagery abilities or unfamiliar with self-reassurance. Multiple senses should be engaged

Inhibitors of Compassion in a student sample

302 students completed self-reported questionnaires of inhibitors of compassion, and either: alexithymia, adult attachment styles, perfectionism, and experiential avoidance. They also completed self-report ratings of mood before and after compassion tasks

Barriers to compassionate imagery generation in personality disorder: intra- and inter-personal factors

This empirical paper is part of a joint project with another UCL DClinPsy trainee, Amanda Mwale Her paper is entitled "Exploring barriers to generating compassionate imagery in individuals with a personality disorder: the role of the severity of adverse childhood experiences, self-compassion and affect". An outline of each trainee's contribution is given in Appendix One. Part One of this volume is a literature review entitled 'Self-Compassion and Self- Forgiveness Interventions for Anger and Aggression". Self-compassion/forgiveness interventions for anger and aggression have been developed on the assumptions that aggression is often a response to shame, and that self-compassion/forgiveness is an effective way to reduce shame. However, no review has examined the empirical basis for these approaches. A systematic review identified nine papers exploring the relationship between anger, angry cognitions or aggression and self-compassion/forgiveness. Findings indicated that self-compassion and self-forgiveness are correlated with angry cognitions and aggression. However, experimental studies evaluating these approaches for populations with heightened aggression are needed in order to determine their efficacy. Part Two of this volume is an empirical paper entitled 'Barriers to compassionate imagery generation in personality disorder: intra- and interpersonal factors'. The study was designed to enhance the effectiveness of Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) for personality disorder (PD). It focuses specifically on the technique of compassion focused imagery (CFI), which many clients find challenging. Fifty-three clients with PD diagnoses completed measures of hypothesised barriers to compassionate imagery (such as self-criticism and mental imagery ability) before trialling CFI. Analysis involved correlation of outcomes of CFI with measures of hypothesised barriers. Qualitative data on CFI experiences were also gathered through group discussions. Subsequently, the study evaluated the outcomes of one week of CFI practice. Part Three of this volume is a critical appraisal, which reflects on strengths and learning points from the two papers above

Hypotheses

Level 1 Hypotheses: 1. When people engages in health promoting behaviors their levels of distress decrease. 2. When people engages in socially connected relationships their levels of distress decrease. 3. When people engages in health risks behaviors their levels of distress increase. Level 2: 1. People engaged in social connection, emotion regulation, and health promoting behaviors reported less level of distres

Implementation of a Brief Online Skills Group of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Emotional Dysregulation: A Withdrawal Design

This study explored the effects of Individual+Group DBT sessions vs IndividualDBt+Placebo group sessions in Latinx Participants. An experimental Withdrawal design was implemente

Validation of the Hispanic American version of the Plymouth Sensory Imagery Questionnaire (Psi-Q): A culturally adapted measure of mental imagery

Open data for analyses presented in the manuscrip

Validation of the Hispanic American Version of the Plymouth Sensory Imagery Questionnaire (psi-q): A Culturally Adapted Measure of Multisensory Mental Imagery

Mental imagery is increasingly recognized to play a key role in psychotherapy, education, and other domains. The Plymouth Sensory Imagery Questionnaire (psi-q) measures the vividness of mental imagery in seven modalities: vision, sound, smell, taste, touch, bodily sensations, and feelings. This study adapted the psi-q for Hispanic-American respondents in Colombia and explored moderators of imagery vividness. Study 1 validated the original psi-q (short version) in a sample of 292 Colombian university students. Study 2 developed and validated a cultural adaptation of the psi-q with 508 Colombian adults from the general population. The Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire-2 (vviq-2) was used to analyze convergent validity in both samples. Thus we propose a new 29-item Hispanic-American version of the psi-q, adapted to cultural differences in the region, that displays good reliability and convergent validity. Imagery vividness was higher in females and at higher education levels. Higher cross-loadings between senses occurred in this sample, which may reflect cultural differences in somatization.Se reconoce cada vez más que las imágenes mentales, la experiencia de la percepción en ausencia de un objeto, desempeñan un papel importante en la psicoterapia, la educación y otros dominios. El Cuestionario de visualización sensorial de Plymouth (Psi-Q) mide la viveza de las imagenes mentales en siete modalidades sensoriales: visión, sonido, olfato, gusto, tacto, sensaciones corporales y sentimientos emocionales. La escala original tiene 35 ítems y la versión corta tiene 21 ítems. Hasta la fecha solo ha sido validado en países de altos ingresos. El presente estudio adaptó el Psi-Q para participantes hispanoamericanos en Colombia y exploró moderadores de la vividez de las imágenes. El estudio 1 validó el Psi-Q original (versión corta) en una muestra de 292 estudiantes universitarios colombianos. El estudio 2 desarrolló y validó una adaptación cultural del Psi-Q con 508 adultos colombianos de la población general. El Cuestionario "Vividness of Visual Imagery-2" (VVIQ-2) se utilizó para analizar la validez convergente en ambas muestras, mientras que la fiabilidad test-retest se midió en una submuestra del Estudio 1. Con base en los hallazgos, proponemos una nueva versión hispanoamericana de 29 ítems del Psi-Q, que se adapta a las diferencias culturales en esta región. La escala mostró buena confiabilidad y validez convergente. Se espera que esto permita una medición precisa de las capacidades de imágenes multisensoriales en Hispanoamérica. La vividez de las imágenes fue mayor en las mujeres y en niveles de educación más altos. En esta muestra se produjeron cargas cruzadas más altas entre los sentidos, lo que puede reflejar diferencias culturales en la somatización