Imagining Letting Go: a Preliminary Test of Written Imagery Rescripting to Facilitate Discarding in a High Hoarding Sample

Abstract

AbstractMental images appear to be important mental events in hoarding that may maintain the disorder by interfering with discarding. We tested whether a novel written imagery rescripting task, focused on modifying a negative imagined outcome of discarding a hoarded object into a positive alternative, could be used to promote discarding in individuals with hoarding traits, and compared this against other cognitive-behavioural strategies used to encourage discarding. We also examined whether the success of imagery rescripting depended on imagining ability. High hoarding participants (n = 176), recruited through Cloudresearch.com, were asked to imagine a negative outcome of discarding an object they were still attached to. We then randomized them into one of four conditions: imagery rescripting, imaginal exposure, cognitive restructuring, or a positive imagery control, and presented them with a discarding task. Rescripting was associated with increased readiness and motivation to discard, and discarding frequency, compared to other conditions. Rescripting also reduced state negative emotions and increased state positive emotions relative to exposure and restructuring. We found reductions in object attachment in rescripting, restructuring, and positive imagery. The effect of rescripting on readiness and motivation to discard was moderated by imagining ability, such that higher imagining ability was associated with greater readiness and motivation to discard after rescripting. Pending replication and extension, written imagery rescripting may have promise as a clinical strategy to facilitate discarding in individuals with hoarding difficulties.