title: The effects of rational stage directed imagery on self-concept and reduction of psychological stress in adolescent delinquent females.
abstract: This study examined the effect of four treatment conditions on self-concept and reduction of psychological stress in adolescent delinquent females. The treatments were Rational State Directed Imagery, a cognitive behavioral approach that utilized intensive muscle relaxation and vivid-emotive-imagery, a rational (cognitive) restructuring treatment, a placebo condition, and a no treatment control. Ss were assigned randomly to one of these treatment groups, which met 1 hour per week for 6 consecutive weeks, with in-vivo homework assignments also utilized. Statistically scale were noted for the RSDI group at the posttest and at a 2-month follow-up, which supports the therapeutic efficacy of this treatment. Support was found for the effectiveness of the rational (cognitive) restructuring approach immediately posttreatment; however these effects disappeared at the 2-month follow-up. The placebo and control groups showed no significant effects at either posttreatment or the follow-up. These results suggest that RSDI has potential for use as a short-term psychotherapeutic approach when self-concept modification is a primary goal.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D001828:Body Image; D003071:Cognition; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005793:Generalization, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009126:Muscle Relaxation; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief; D011617:Psychotherapy, Rational-Emotive; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological