Occurrence of imagery and its link with early memories in agoraphobia
Occurrence of imagery and its link with early memories in agoraphobia
Recent cognitive models suggest that mental imagery can help us understand the maintenance of anxiety disorders (e.g., de Silva, 1986; Hackmann, Surawy, & Clark, 1998). However, imagery is relatively unexplored within agoraphobia. Such images are also thought to be useful in uncovering memories that occurred around the onset of a disorder (Hackmann, Clark, & McManus, 2000). A total of 20 patients with agoraphobia and 20 matched controls took part in this investigation. Participants described any recurrent images they experienced in agoraphobic situations, and also any associated memories. All patients with agoraphobia (but no control participants) reported having distinct recurrent images in “agoraphobic situations”. Most images involved several sensory modalities and in the majority of cases appeared to be linked with unpleasant memories of events experienced many years previously. While these exploratory findings require replication, potential treatment implications are discussed.
416-427
Day, S.J.
7c44bc07-5081-4079-929f-2d99e3b8b7a9
Holmes, E.A.
a6379ab3-b182-45f8-87c9-3e07e90fe469
Hackmann, A.
e2ae0720-c23e-4702-973f-2d2ea1d10c6a
24 June 2004
Day, S.J.
7c44bc07-5081-4079-929f-2d99e3b8b7a9
Holmes, E.A.
a6379ab3-b182-45f8-87c9-3e07e90fe469
Hackmann, A.
e2ae0720-c23e-4702-973f-2d2ea1d10c6a
Day, S.J., Holmes, E.A. and Hackmann, A.
(2004)
Occurrence of imagery and its link with early memories in agoraphobia.
Memory, 12 (4), .
(doi:10.1080/09658210444000034).
Abstract
Recent cognitive models suggest that mental imagery can help us understand the maintenance of anxiety disorders (e.g., de Silva, 1986; Hackmann, Surawy, & Clark, 1998). However, imagery is relatively unexplored within agoraphobia. Such images are also thought to be useful in uncovering memories that occurred around the onset of a disorder (Hackmann, Clark, & McManus, 2000). A total of 20 patients with agoraphobia and 20 matched controls took part in this investigation. Participants described any recurrent images they experienced in agoraphobic situations, and also any associated memories. All patients with agoraphobia (but no control participants) reported having distinct recurrent images in “agoraphobic situations”. Most images involved several sensory modalities and in the majority of cases appeared to be linked with unpleasant memories of events experienced many years previously. While these exploratory findings require replication, potential treatment implications are discussed.
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Published date: 24 June 2004
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Local EPrints ID: 508096
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/508096
ISSN: 0965-8211
PURE UUID: 661c6ea1-2036-44c1-b370-7639f52a00ab
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Date deposited: 13 Jan 2026 17:50
Last modified: 14 Jan 2026 03:12
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Author:
S.J. Day
Author:
E.A. Holmes
Author:
A. Hackmann
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