Factors influencing mood and wellbeing within imagery interventions

Imagery is the 'new frontier' to cognitive-behavioural treatments (CST) but research into the factors influencing outcomes in imagery-integrated CBT is limited. To address this, Study 1 generalised experimental findings to show that imagery improved optimism and worry more than verbal methods. Further, Study 2 demonstrated that number of negative and positive images mediated changes in optimism, self-esteem and wellbeing within imagery-integrated CBT. Finally, Study 3 found that CBT integrating positive and negative imagery interventions improved optimism, self-esteem and anxiety more than CBT integrating negative imagery interventions. Overall, this thesis concludes that both negative and, positive images are important in determining treatment outcomes.