Imaging vividness and the outcome of in vivo and imagined scene desensitization.

Reexamined the role of imaging vividness in desensitization success. Scores on the Betts Questionnaire on Mental Imagery were used to divide 48 snake-phobic Ss into high, medium, and low vivid groups, who were assigned to imagined scene or in vivo desensitization treatments. The Fear Survey Schedule was used to measure general fearfulness. Imaging vividness was assessed at scheduled points during therapy. Significant decreases in behavioral and self-reported fear were observed after both treatments, although in vivo desensitization produced significantly greater fear reduction. In therapy, imaging vividness scores were significantly correlated with therapeutic success and were superior to pretherapy ratings as predictors of outcome. (2 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)