Feasibility and Acceptability of a Single Session of Imagery Rescripting in a Community Sample of Adults

Brief Strategies for Improving Health Outcomes

Negative experiences related to eating and appearance (NEREAs), such as critical commentary from parents about food, are common. They are also associated with depression and disordered eating, predictors of early mortality. Imagery rescripting (IR) is a therapeutic process during which individuals are guided through recalling distressing memories, like NEREAs, and generating ideas for bringing support into these memories. Single sessions of IR demonstrate promise in shifting the primary negative consequences of NEREAs in clinical samples of women. The current study examined the feasibility and acceptability of a remote-delivered, single session of IR in a community sample of men and women with NEREAs.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. ≥18 years old
2. endorse a history of at least one negative experience related to eating and/or appearance

Exclusion Criteria:

1. endorsed a current major medical condition;
2. met criteria for a full threshold psychiatric disorder (of moderate intensity when severity ratings are necessary, such as for substance use disorders and binge eating disorder);
3. were at high risk for suicide;
4. endorsed current or recent pregnancy or anticipated becoming pregnant within the next year;
5. were taking medication known to affect eating, weight and/or chronic disease risk;
6. were participating in eating, weight, or diabetes programming;
7. experienced weight loss > 10% in the past six months; and/or
8. could not complete study procedures in English.