Imagery Rescripting as a Treatment for Early Psychosis

In a multiple baseline case series study the effectiveness of Imagery Rescripting (ImRs) as a treatment for Early Psychosis will be researched. 5-10 participants with a diagnosis of psychosis will be randomized to a waiting list with variable length between 1-3 weeks. After this participants will enter the ImRs (approximately 4-6 sessions), given twice-weekly. Follow up assessment will take place 3 weeks after ending treatment. Primary outcome is schema of core beliefs, wellbeing and self esteem, operationalized by daily measures with visual analogue scales and questionnaires 4 times like the MHQoL and the RSAS. Secondary outcomes are psychotic symptoms (PSYRATS) and trauma symptoms (PCL-5) (measured 4 times), strength of affect and obtrusiveness of image (measured daily with VAS scales). The hypothesis is that the primary outcomes will reduce more during the intervention phase compared to the baseline phase and remain stable or even further improve in the follow-up phase. For the secondary outcomes the investigator hypothesized a decrease in psychotic and trauma symptoms and less strength of affect and obtrusiveness of image. The largest effect is expected from pre- to post treatment, with a relative stable little change during baseline and follow-up. Results will be analyzed using visual inspection, repeated measures ANOVA and multilevel analysis, pooling the effects of the individual cases. Finally, participants will be interviewed post treatment about their experiences during treatment.