Relationship between mental imagery and emotion in extreme mood states

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Relationships between mental imagery and emotion in extreme mood states: A grounded theory investigation

• IRAS ID

  155641

• Contact name

  Sarah Saveker

• Contact email

  saveker@exchange.lancs.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Lancaster University, Research Support Office

• Research summary

  Recent research has explored the role of imagery in various psychological difficulties for example in psychosis (Morrison, Beck, Glentworth, Dunn, Reid, Larkin & Williams, 2001), obsessive compulsive disorder (Rachman, 2007) and anxiety disorders (Beck, Laude & Bohnert, 1974). There is emerging evidence that imagery plays a role in maintaining distress.

  Interestingly, recent research suggests that compared to control groups, people with a diagnosis of bipolar experience higher levels of mental imagery, more vivid imagery and higher levels of intrusive prospective imagery (Holmes et al., 2011).
  This study also highlighted the need for further investigation of imagery in bipolar in order to identify the underlying processes that maintain difficulties in emotional regulation. Research has found that imagery may act as an emotional amplifier (Holmes, Geddes, Colom, & Goodwin, 2008) which enhances various mood states.

  Research in this area has been predominantly quantitative and models have been derived from quantitative data (Holmes & Matthews, 2010). Therefore, there is scope for further qualitative research to explore the experiences of individuals who have a diagnosis of bipolar in order to create a model to help explain this phenomenon. This will then be contrasted with existing models to see whether the findings fit with existing models of bipolar and imagery. The findings will have clinical implications for how clinicians work with people with a diagnosis of bipolar and how imagery may fit into assessment, formulation and intervention.

• REC name

  North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  14/NW/1297

• Date of REC Opinion

  7 Nov 2014

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion