NCT07362511

Imagery Rescripting in Primary Care

Imagery Rescripting Within Primary Care to Manage Depression: A Single-Case Experimental Design

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 12 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Amsterdam · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 70 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

In the current study we aim to investigate the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of ImRs offered by mental health assistants within primary care to reduce depressive symptoms. In a single-case experimental design (SCED) study, the following hypotheses will be tested: 1. ImRs results in a reduction of depressive symptoms compared to baseline, and this reduction lasts up to six months. 2. Patients with complaints of depressive symptoms find ImRs an acceptable form of intervention when offered by mental health assistants within a general practice setting. Participants will wait for 2-4 weeks and then receive 5 sessions of ImRs over a period of 10 weeks. During these sessions, negative memories related to their depressed feelings are rescripted.

Detailed description

The study consists of a multiple-baseline case series in which the effectiveness and feasibility of Imagery Rescripting as a therapeutic technique will be investigated within primary care, with the aim of reducing depressive symptoms. The intervention will be provided by the mental health assistants (POH-GGZ) at the GP practice that is linked to the University of Amsterdam (Huisartsenpraktijk UvA). These mental health assistant have been trained in Imagery Rescripting. In the study, participants are randomly assigned to a baseline condition of 2-4 weeks, and a subsequent intervention condition of 10 weeks. During the intervention, all patients receive five sessions of Imagery Rescripting (45 minutes per session). Throughout these 12-14 weeks, and for 4 weeks after, participants complete bi-weekly (i.e., twice per week) measurements. The total number of bi-weekly measurements is thus 32-36, depending on the baseline condition that participants are randomized to. In addition, there will be 5 longer questionnaires, including a 3 and 6-month follow-up. Participants that are invited to the study but that do not want to participate will receive care as usual by the mental health assistant.

Conditions

• Major Depressive Diorder
• Low Self-Esteem
• Mood Disorders

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Imagery Rescripting	During ImRs, the patient brings a negative memory to mind and changes, together with the therapist, the outcome of the memory into a more positive

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-12-01
• Primary completion: 2026-08-31
• Completion: 2027-01-31
• First posted: 2026-01-23
• Last updated: 2026-01-23

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Netherlands