Imagine for tomorrow, what you cannot feel now – The role of anhedonia in imagery-enhanced behavioral activation

IF 4.2 2区心理学 Q1 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL

Behaviour Research and Therapy Pub Date : 2025-02-19 DOI:10.1016/j.brat.2025.104707

Max Heise , Julie L. Ji , Jessica Werthmann , Fritz Renner

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Abstract

Preliminary evidence suggests that mental imagery-based elaboration of rewarding activities enhances anticipated pleasure, motivation, and behavioral engagement in non-clinical samples, but its effects in individuals experiencing anhedonia (loss of pleasure/interest) is unclear. Study 1 (N = 90) contrasted imagery-enhanced activity scheduling with two scheduling-only control conditions (Reminder/No Reminder Control) in an unselected sample. Study 2 (N = 108) compared imagery-enhanced activity scheduling with two control conditions (Neutral Imagery/Motivational Verbal Reasoning) in individuals experiencing mild to moderate anhedonia. Both studies measured changes in activity appraisal (anticipated pleasure, anticipated reward/mastery, motivation) in the lab, and behavioral engagement across a subsequent 7-day period. Additionally, Study 2 assessed heart rate as a psychophysiological marker of emotional response across conditions. Results showed that anticipated pleasure increased more in the imagery-enhanced activity scheduling condition compared to control conditions in Study 1, but not Study 2. Across both studies, conditions did not differ regarding changes in anticipated reward/mastery, motivation, or behavioral engagement. The present findings indicate that although mental imagery may enhance anticipated pleasure in non-clinical individuals, its effects in participants experiencing anhedonia remains to be further investigated.

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来源期刊

Behaviour Research and Therapy PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL-

CiteScore

7.50

自引率

7.30%

发文量

148

期刊介绍： The major focus of Behaviour Research and Therapy is an experimental psychopathology approach to understanding emotional and behavioral disorders and their prevention and treatment, using cognitive, behavioral, and psychophysiological (including neural) methods and models. This includes laboratory-based experimental studies with healthy, at risk and subclinical individuals that inform clinical application as well as studies with clinically severe samples. The following types of submissions are encouraged: theoretical reviews of mechanisms that contribute to psychopathology and that offer new treatment targets; tests of novel, mechanistically focused psychological interventions, especially ones that include theory-driven or experimentally-derived predictors, moderators and mediators; and innovations in dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practices into clinical practice in psychology and associated fields, especially those that target underlying mechanisms or focus on novel approaches to treatment delivery. In addition to traditional psychological disorders, the scope of the journal includes behavioural medicine (e.g., chronic pain). The journal will not consider manuscripts dealing primarily with measurement, psychometric analyses, and personality assessment.