Abstract
No previous outcome study in cognitive therapy has examined either the efficacy of imagery modification for depressives or the efficacy of a cognitive therapy geared specifically to the individual's value system. The present study did both of these by comparing the relative therapeutic efficacy of a religious and nonreligious imagery modification for mildly depressed religious individuals. The nonreligious imagery treatment showed no effects beyond those of the self-monitoring treatment or the minimal treatment condition. The religious imagery treatment, however, showed significantly more treatment gains than the self-monitoring or nonreligious imagery treatments, while the self-monitoring plus therapist contact treatment was intermediate in effectiveness.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Reference Notes
Schultz, K. S.Fantasy stimulation in the treatment of depressed psychiatric patients. Paper presented at the meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, New York, April 1976.
Meichenbaum, D.Therapist manual for cognitive behavior modification. Unpublished manuscript, 1973. Available from Donald Meichenbaum, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2G 3L1.
References
Beck, A. T. Thinking and depression.Archives of General Psychiatry 1963,9 324–333.
Beck, A. T.Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders. New York: International Universities Press, 1976.
Beck, A. T., Ward, C. H., Mendelson, M., Mock, J. E., & Erbaugh, J. K. An inventory for measuring depression.Archives of General Psychiatry 1961,4 561–571.
Butcher, J., & Tellegen, A. Common methodological problems in MMPI research.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1978,46 620–628.
Franks, J.Persuasion and healing (Rev. ed.). New York: Schocken, 1974.
Fuchs, C., & Rehm, L. P. A self-control behavior therapy program for depression.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1977,45 206–215.
Goldfried, M. Systematic desensitization as training in self-control.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1971,37 228–234.
Goldstein, A. P., Heller, K., & Sechrest, L. B.Psychotherapy and the psychology of behavior change. New York: Wiley, 1966.
Horan, J. J. “In vivo” emotive imagery: A technique for reducing childbirth anxiety and discomfort.Psychological Reports 1973,32 1328.
Kiev, A. Magic, faith and healing in modern psychiatry. In R. Cox (Ed.),Religious systems and psychotherapy. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C Thomas, 1973.
King, M. A., & Hunt, R. A. Measuring the religious variable: Replication.Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 1972,11 240–251.
Kirsch, I. The placebo effect and the cognitive-behavioral revolution.Cognitive Therapy and Research 1978,2 255–264.
Lang, P. J. An information processing analysis of fear.Behavior Therapy 1977,8 862–886.
Lazarus, A.Behavior therapy and beyond. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1971.
Lazarus, A.In the mind's eye. New York: Rawson Associates, 1977.
Lewinsohn, P., Weinstein, M., & Alper, T. A behavioral approach to the group treatment of depressed persons: A methodological contribution.Journal of Clinical Psychology 1970,26 525–532.
MacPhillamy, D., & Lewinsohn, P. Depression as a function of levels of desired and obtained pleasure.Journal of Abnormal Psychology 1974,83 651–657.
Overall, J., Butcher, J., & Hunter, S. Validity of the MMPI-168 for psychiatric screening.Educational and Psychological Measurement 1975,35 393–400.
Rogers, C. R., & Dymond, R. F.Psychotherapy and personality change. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1954.
Rosenbaum, M., Friedlander, J., & Kaplan, S. M. Evaluation of results of psychotherapy.Psychosomatic Medicine 1956,18 113–132.
Rush, A., Beck, A., Kovacs, M., & Hollon, S. Comparative efficacy of cognitive therapy and pharmacotherapy in the treatment of depressed outpatients.Cognitive Therapy and Research 1977,1 17–37.
Rush, A. J., Khatami, M., & Beck, A. T. Cognitive and behavior therapy in chronic depression.Behavior Therapy 1975,6 398–404.
Shaw, B. F. A comparison of cognitive therapy and behavior therapy in the treatment of depression.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1977,45 543–551.
Starker, S., & Singer, J. Daydreaming and symptom patterns of psychiatric patients: A factor-analytic study.Journal of Abnormal Psychology 1975,84 567–570.
Taylor, F., & Marshall, W. Experimental analysis of a cognitive behavioral therapy for depression.Cognitive Therapy and Research 1977,1 59–72.
Worthington, E. The effects of imagery content, choice of imagery content, and self-verbalization on the self-control of pain.Cognitive Therapy and Research 1978,2 225–240.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The author wishes to thank J. T. Reagan and Russell Dern for their valuable help in the execution of the study.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Propst, L.R. The comparative efficacy of religious and nonreligious imagery for the treatment of mild depression in religious individuals. Cogn Ther Res 4, 167–178 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01173648
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01173648