Background and objectives

Imagery-based techniques have become a promising means in the treatment of test anxiety (TA). Although previous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of imagery-based treatment, not all clients seem to benefit from it. The present study compares clients' pre- as well as post-treatment emotion dynamics between responders and non-responders. Furthermore, it examines treatment-related changes in emotion dynamics in both subgroups.

Methods

The results are based on 44 clients suffering from TA who underwent a six-session imagery-based treatment and include Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA). Emotions were assessed with the Profile of Mood States four times a day over the course of two weeks before and after the treatment. Temporal networks were computed to index emotion dynamics.

Results

Pre-treatment emotion dynamics differed between responders and non-responders. Similarly, post-treatment emotion dynamics differed as well between both groups. Some changes were also observed between pre-treatment and post-treatment networks: for responders, fatigue no longer predicted anger, and depression predicted itself; for non-responders, calmness predicted fatigue, anger, depression, contentment, and anxiety. In addition, fatigue no longer predicted itself and anxiety predicted vigor.

Limitations

The investigation is marked by several limitations: a liberal inclusion threshold of at least a 50% response to EMA prompts, and a relatively homogenous sample.

Conclusion

These results provide first evidence for the idea that emotion dynamics may be associated with response to treatment for TA. Furthermore, effective imagery-based treatments may be tied to changes within these dynamics.

中文翻译：

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测试焦虑患者在意象治疗前后的情绪动态

背景和目标

基于图像的技术已成为治疗考试焦虑（TA）的一种有前途的手段。尽管之前的研究已经证明了基于意象的治疗的有效性，但似乎并非所有客户都能从中受益。本研究比较了有反应者和无反应者治疗前和治疗后的情绪动态。此外，它还检查了两个亚组中与治疗相关的情绪动态变化。

方法

结果基于 44 名患有 TA 的客户，他们接受了六次基于图像的治疗，包括生态瞬时评估 (EMA)。在治疗前后的两周内，每天使用情绪状态概况评估四次情绪。计算时间网络来索引情绪动态。

结果

治疗前有反应者和无反应者之间的情绪动态有所不同。同样，两组治疗后的情绪动态也不同。在治疗前和治疗后网络之间也观察到了一些变化：对于反应者来说，疲劳不再预示着愤怒，而抑郁则预示着自身；对于无反应的人来说，平静预示着疲劳、愤怒、抑郁、满足和焦虑。此外，疲劳不再预示着自身，焦虑预示着活力。

局限性

该调查有几个局限性：对 EMA 提示的至少 50% 响应的自由纳入阈值，以及相对同质的样本。

结论

这些结果为情绪动态可能与 TA 治疗反应相关这一观点提供了第一个证据。此外，有效的基于图像的治疗可能与这些动态的变化有关。