Trial reportBehaviour research and therapy2019
Mental imagery as a "motivational amplifier" to promote activities.
Trial report in Behaviour research and therapy, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 38 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
The Efficacy of Prospective Mental Imagery in Enhancing Approach Motivation Among Socially Anxious Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Trial
The Role of Mental Imagery on Approach Motivation and Behavioral Engagement in Social Anxiety
Who cites it
38 citing papers in PubMed.
- Stimulating Future-Oriented Thinking and Goal-Achievement Through the Future Self Using Virtual Reality and a Smartphone App: Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Trial
- Early Evaluation of IMAGINATOR 2.0 Intervention Targeting Self-Harm in Young People: Single-Arm Feasibility Trial.JMIR formative research · 2026Trial
- Reinforcing implementation intentions with imagery increases physical activity habit strength and behaviour.British journal of health psychology · 2025Trial
- A causal link between mental imagery and affect-laden perception of climate change related risks.Scientific reports · 2023Trial
- Mental imagery in adolescent PTSD patients after child abuse: a comparison with matched healthy controls.BMC psychiatry · 2022Trial
- Telephone-based behavioral activation with mental imagery for depression: A pilot randomized clinical trial in isolated older adults during the Covid-19 pandemic.International journal of geriatric psychiatry · 2022Trial
- Self-Efficacy Mediates the Effect of Framing Eating Disorders Prevention Message on Intentions to Have a Sufficient Weight: A Pilot Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Trial
- The effects of episodic simulation on the cognitive and emotional expectancies related to personal goals.Psychological research · 2026Article
- The Experience of Goals and Rewards in Young People Who Self-Harm: A Qualitative Exploration.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- A virtual-reality based intervention on thoughts of the future self to reduce negative affect, depression, and suicidal ideation: protocol for a feasibility and acceptability randomized controlled pilot trial (FutureU for Mental Health).Pilot and feasibility studies · 2025Article
- Older Adults' Experiences of Telephone-Delivered Behavioral Activation with Mental Imagery as a Treatment for Depression During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- The effect of positive mental imagery versus positive verbal thoughts on anhedonia.Applied psychology. Health and well-being · 2025Article
- Positive mental imagery, emotion regulation and depressive symptoms in individuals with alcohol use disorder.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2025Article
- A proof-of-concept analysis of data from the first NHS clinic for young adults with comorbid cannabis use and psychotic disorders.BJPsych open · 2024Article
- Counteract Anhedonia! Introducing an Online-Training to Enhance Reward Experiencing - A Pilot Study.Clinical psychology in Europe · 2024Article
- Web-Based Imagery Behavioral Activation (WIMBA): Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial Testing the Effects, Acceptability, and Feasibility of a Mental Imagery Activity Scheduling Training Delivered Online.Clinical psychology in Europe · 2024Article
- Article
- Validation of a Community-Based Approach Toward Personalized Dementia Risk Reduction: The Kimel Family Centre for Brain Health and Wellness.The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease · 2024Article
- Repetition and practice. Developing mental training with young violinists: a collaboration.Frontiers in psychology · 2024Article
- Developing behavioural activation for people with acquired brain injury: a qualitative interpretive description study of barriers and facilitators to activity engagement.BMC psychology · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Facilitating engagement in rewarding activities is a key treatment target in depression. Mental imagery can increase engagement in planned behaviours, potentially due to its special role in representing emotionally salient experiences. The present study tested the hypothesis that mental imagery promotes motivation and engagement when planning pleasant and rewarding activities. Participants were recruited from a community volunteer panel (N = 72). They self-nominated six activities to complete over the following week, and were randomized to either: a) a single-session Motivational Imagery condition (N = 24); b) an Activity Reminder control condition (N = 24); or c) a No-Reminder control condition (N = 24). As predicted, relative to control groups, the Motivational Imagery group reported higher levels of motivation, anticipated pleasure, and anticipated reward for the planned activities. The Motivational Imagery group also completed significantly more activities than the Activity Reminder group, but not more than the No-Reminder group. Relevance of results to behavioural activation approaches for depression are discussed.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.