Borlimi, R., Brianzoni, I., Riboli, G., Nese, M., Brighetti, G., & Dimaggio, G. (2025). Arousal grows up, arousal goes down. Emotion regulation, trait anxiety, rumination and worry as predictors of recovery time after mental imagery. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 89, 102059.
ABSTRACT
Background: One key ingredient for guided imagery interventions’ effectiveness is their capacity to increase emotional arousal. However, individual responses vary, as some people can have negative experiences that undermine treatment adherence or effectiveness. Research is needed to understand predictors of negative reactions to experiencing negative events during imagery. One idea suggests that some individuals struggle to return to baseline, making the experience unpleasant or distressing. Which predictors contribute to slower recovery after imagery of negative events?
Aims and hypothesis: We tested the following hypotheses in a non-clinical sample: (H1) participants experienced an increase in physiological arousal upon recalling an unpleasant autobiographical event, (H2) participants returned spontaneously to baseline physiological levels during the recovery period, but (H3) emotion dysregulation, depression and trait anxiety predicted recovery arousal, and (H4) repetitive thinking (rumination and worry) was also associated with recovery arousal.
Methods: Participants completed questionnaires assessing repetitive thinking (rumination and worry), trait anxiety, depression, and emotion dysregulation. Arousal was measured through continuous recording of Skin Conductance Response (SCR) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV).
Results: After the predicted arousal increase following imagery, participants returned to baseline. There were individual differences in average physiological return to baseline as measured by SCR, but not HRV. Emotion regulation, trait anxiety, rumination and worry significantly predicted physiological recovery.
Conclusions: Individuals with severe tendencies towards repetitive thinking and, to a lesser extent, with higher trait anxiety and emotion dysregulation may require preliminary work before undergoing imagery aimed at working through distressing memories.