title: Intrusive imagery in people with a specific phobia of vomiting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  AND OBJECTIVES: Specific phobia of vomiting (SPOV) is a chronic, pervasive and debilitating disorder which is clinically regarded as difficult to treat. Research into its development, maintenance and treatment has been limited. This study explored the prevalence and characteristics of intrusive mental imagery in people with SPOV. It investigated the relationship between presence of imagery and severity of phobia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six participants meeting DSM-IV criteria for SPOV were recruited from online support groups and outpatient clinics. A semi-structured quantitative interview was administered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-nine (81%) participants reported multi-sensory intrusive imagery of adult (52%) and childhood memories (31%) and worst case scenarios ("flashforwards") of vomiting (17%). Extent of imagery was significantly related to severity of phobia. Participants primarily fearing others vomiting had less severe phobic symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No control group was used and a heterogeneous sample of clinical and community participants was recruited. Correlational data comparing extent of imagery with severity of SPOV symptoms were derived from as yet unvalidated measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intrusive mental imagery is a clinically important feature of SPOV and may contribute to its maintenance. Causality needs to be demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Research Dept of Clinical, Educational & Health Psychology, University College London, UK. katy.price@nhs.net
authors.forename: Katy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Veale
authors.forename: Chris R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Brewin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014839:Vomiting; D055815:Young Adult