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Exploring the Role of Mental Imagery in the Experience of Self-injury: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 January 2015

Peter Dargan ,
Graeme Reid Open the ORCID record for Graeme Reid [Opens in a new window]  and
Suzanne Hodge
Peter Dargan*
Affiliation:
North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust, Stoke-on-Trent, UK
Graeme Reid
Affiliation:
Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, Wigan, UK
Suzanne Hodge
Affiliation:
Lancaster University, UK
*
Reprint requests to Peter Dargan, North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust, Harplands Hospital, Hilton Road, Harpfields, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 6TH, UK. E-mail: peter.dargan2@northstaffs.nhs.uk
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Abstract

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 to experience 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.

Keywords

Imageryself-injurycognitionIPA
Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 44 , Issue 1 , January 2016 , pp. 92 - 103
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2015 

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