Imagery and craving in alcohol dependent persons.
There is limited evidence supporting the effectiveness of imagery techniques in exposure-based treatments for alcohol dependence. Changes in craving for alcohol following imagery instruction, measured by cognitive and physiological indices, have not been demonstrated. Furthermore, the influence of different imagery script content has not been investigated. This study compared levels of craving elicited, measured by self-report and salivation, under control and imagery conditions, in subjects receiving treatment for alcohol dependence. Imagery script content was varied across three levels. Participants generally reported forming good quality images with strong affective components. Significant effects of imagery treatment were found for changes in self-reported craving levels, but not for the salivation measure. Significant decay in levels of self-reported craving was also observed. No differences in effectiveness between the three script types were discovered. Implications of the results for therapy approaches such as cue exposure are considered.
Felstead
B
B
Drug Services Victoria, Pleasant View Centre, 131 Wood Street, Preston, Victoria, 3072, Australia.
Love
A W
AW
Pead
J
J
Taylor
S
S