title: Voluntary and Involuntary Imagery in Social Anxiety.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Negative mental imagery is ubiquitous in cognitive models of social anxiety and in the social anxiety literature. Previous research has shown that it is causal of increased anxiety, lower social performance ratings and lower implicit self-esteem. Despite its prevalence, few studies have investigated this imagery directly.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to provide an in-depth analysis of the phenomenology of negative imagery experienced by socially anxious individuals, and to compare recurrent and intrusive images with images deliberately generated by participants during the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight undergraduate students screened to be above average in social anxiety scores completed a computerized imagery questionnaire adapted from previous qualitative work.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thematic analyses revealed four major image themes for intrusive images and three for deliberately generated images including interacting with others and anxiety symptoms. Most intrusive images were based on negative episodic memories and were experienced at least fortnightly. Images were primarily visual, auditory and somatic but could involve any sensory modality. Depression anxiety stress scale (DASS-21) scores were higher in participants who experienced intrusive imagery and increased with the frequency of intrusions. Emotionality was generally higher in intrusive images than generated images.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The phenomenology of negative imagery experienced by socially anxious individuals is idiosyncratic and may be inherently different from images generated for use in experimental research. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology,Cognition Institute,Plymouth University,Drake Circus,Plymouth,Devon PL4 8AA,UK.
authors.forename: Sophie R
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1825-5533
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Homer
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology,Cognition Institute,Plymouth University,Drake Circus,Plymouth,Devon PL4 8AA,UK.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Deeprose
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D008297:Male; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D000072861:Phobia, Social / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Social anxiety; intrusive imagery; mental imagery; qualitative