Mental imagery in social anxiety disorder: the development and clinical utility of a Japanese version of the Spontaneous Use of Imagery Scale (SUIS-J)

ABSTRACT The purpose was to develop a Japanese version of the Spontaneous Use of Imagery Scale (SUIS-J) and test its clinical utility. Undergraduate students answered the SUIS-J and the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS-J). Twenty patients with social anxiety disorder (SAD) completed these scales before and after CBT. The SUISJ demonstrated acceptable internal consistency. No significant correlations were found between SUIS-J and LSAS-J. No difference was found in healthy controls and SAD. No significant increase in SUIS-J after CBT. SUIS-J scores values of Japanese were similar to Western people. Findings suggest that daily use of mental imagery is not related to SAD symptoms.