Rights statement: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/behavioural-and-cognitive-psychotherapy The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 44 (1), pp 92-103 2016, © 2016 Cambridge University Press.
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Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring the role of mental imagery in the experience of self-injury
T2 - an interpretative phenomenological analysis
AU - Dargan, Peter
AU - Reid, Graeme
AU - Hodge, Suzanne
N1 - https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/behavioural-and-cognitive-psychotherapy The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 44 (1), pp 92-103 2016, © 2016 Cambridge University Press.
PY - 2016/1
Y1 - 2016/1
N2 - Background: Research has implicated causal, mediating and meaningful roles for mental imagery in the experience of psychological distress, including self-injury. Aims: The present study aimed to further the understanding of this relationship through exploring the lived experiences of mental imagery from the perspective of those who self-injure. Method: This study employed an inductive qualitative design using semi-structured interviews and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Ten participants were recruited from universities in North West England. Results: Three main themes were identified from the analysis: (i) The origins and precipitants of self-injurious imagery; (ii) What it is like toexperience self-injurious imagery; and (iii) The meaning and interpretation of self-injurious imagery. Conclusions: The study findings indicate that mental imagery is an important experience for those who self-injure. Clinical and research implications of the findings are discussed.
AB - Background: Research has implicated causal, mediating and meaningful roles for mental imagery in the experience of psychological distress, including self-injury. Aims: The present study aimed to further the understanding of this relationship through exploring the lived experiences of mental imagery from the perspective of those who self-injure. Method: This study employed an inductive qualitative design using semi-structured interviews and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Ten participants were recruited from universities in North West England. Results: Three main themes were identified from the analysis: (i) The origins and precipitants of self-injurious imagery; (ii) What it is like toexperience self-injurious imagery; and (iii) The meaning and interpretation of self-injurious imagery. Conclusions: The study findings indicate that mental imagery is an important experience for those who self-injure. Clinical and research implications of the findings are discussed.
KW - Imagery
KW - self-injury
KW - cognition
KW - IPA
U2 - 10.1017/S1352465814000666
DO - 10.1017/S1352465814000666
M3 - Journal article
VL - 44
SP - 92
EP - 103
JO - Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy
JF - Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy
SN - 1352-4658
IS - 1
ER -