{"title":"Imaginal Desensitisation","authors":"A. Blaszczynski, L. Nower","doi":"10.1300/J182V02N04_01","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Imaginal desensitization is a simple but effective relaxation-based technique that uses images to assist individuals suffering with specific types of impulse control disorders: pathological gambling, sexual paraphilia, trichotillomania (compulsive hair-pulling), kleptomania (shoplifting), compulsive buying, and some forms of explosive aggression and compulsive eating behaviours. The technique involves teaching a brief progressive muscle relaxation procedure. Clients are then instructed to visualize themselves being exposed to a situation that triggers the drive to carry out their impulsive behaviour, contemplating acting on their urge but then leaving the situation in a state of continued relaxation without having acted upon their urge. Sessions can be recorded on cassette audiotape for home-practice. Several studies have confirmed the effectiveness of imaginal desensitisation in diminishing the strength of a compulsive drive by reducing levels of arousal associated with the urge to carry out a behavior. With problem gamblers, for example, imaginal desensitisation significantly decreased the heightened state of arousal and anxiety typically associated with gambling urges at both twelve-month and five-year follow-up intervals. Clients report improved abilities to control impulses and a sense of enhanced self-efficacy.","PeriodicalId":184669,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Clinical Activities, Assignments & Handouts in Psychotherapy Practice","volume":"9 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2002-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"3","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Clinical Activities, Assignments & Handouts in Psychotherapy Practice","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1300/J182V02N04_01","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"","JCRName":"","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 3
Abstract
Abstract Imaginal desensitization is a simple but effective relaxation-based technique that uses images to assist individuals suffering with specific types of impulse control disorders: pathological gambling, sexual paraphilia, trichotillomania (compulsive hair-pulling), kleptomania (shoplifting), compulsive buying, and some forms of explosive aggression and compulsive eating behaviours. The technique involves teaching a brief progressive muscle relaxation procedure. Clients are then instructed to visualize themselves being exposed to a situation that triggers the drive to carry out their impulsive behaviour, contemplating acting on their urge but then leaving the situation in a state of continued relaxation without having acted upon their urge. Sessions can be recorded on cassette audiotape for home-practice. Several studies have confirmed the effectiveness of imaginal desensitisation in diminishing the strength of a compulsive drive by reducing levels of arousal associated with the urge to carry out a behavior. With problem gamblers, for example, imaginal desensitisation significantly decreased the heightened state of arousal and anxiety typically associated with gambling urges at both twelve-month and five-year follow-up intervals. Clients report improved abilities to control impulses and a sense of enhanced self-efficacy.