Positive Mental Imagery in the Intervention of Negative Mood: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to explore the intervention effect of positive mental imagery training on college students’ negative emotions in adults with depression trend. Methods A 2 (group: training group, non-training group) and 4 (time: pre-, post-, 1-week follow-up, and 6-week follow-up) mixed design was used in the present study, with the group as between-subjects factor and the time as within-subjects factor. Forty-nine participants with depressive tendency were randomly assigned to either the imagery training group or the non-training group. Except for negative interpretive bias were assessed before and after training, participants’ depression and anxiety symptoms, vividness and likelihood of mental imagery were assessed at all four time points. Results Compared to the pre-training, imagery group reported improvement in depression and trait anxiety scores and the likelihood of positive imagery across subsequent three assessments, and showed the improvement in the vividness of positive imagery at post-training. However, there was no significant between-group difference was found in negative interpretation bias. Conclusions The positive mental imagery training could effectively promote negative emotions and anxiety in adults with depression trend after 1-week training, and the effects of mental imagery could at least last for 6weeks, which provides a choice for self-regulation in daily life and is a promising way of mental health care. Often imagine a positive future, at least to some extent, good for our physical and mental health.