The impact of imagery rescripting on memory appraisals and core beliefs in social anxiety disorder

Negative mental images in social anxiety disorder (SAD) are often rooted in autobiographical memories of formative, distressing life events. In the present study, 25 participants with SAD retrieved an idiosyncratic negative mental image and associated autobiographical memory. Participants were then randomly assigned either to a single-session of imagery rescripting (IR) targeting the retrieved autobiographical memory or to a non-intervention control condition (no-IR). Outcomes were assessed one week later. Compared to control participants, those who received IR experienced substantial reduction in SAD symptoms accompanied by more positive and less negative appraisals of their autobiographical memories. Moreover, IR relative to no-IR participants reported marked shifts in the content, validity, and accuracy of their memory-derived negative core beliefs about self and others, but not about the world. Results support the promise of IR as a stand-alone intervention for SAD and suggest important directions for future research to enhance our understanding of the cognitive mechanisms that underlie its effects. •Negative images/memories are central problems in social anxiety disorder (SAD).•Participants with SAD were randomized to imagery rescripting (IR) or no-IR.•IR had significant effects on SAD symptoms and memory appraisals relative to no-IR.•IR led to significant changes in core beliefs about self and others but not the world.•Findings support IR as promising intervention for SAD with need for future research.