Imagery rescripting for intrusive sensory memories in major depression following traumatic experiences

The cognitive behavioural treatment of depression has changed little since the cognitive model was originally developed (Beck, Rush, Shaw, & Emery, 1979). Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been shown to be as effective as antidepressants in the short term, but has the advantage of helping to prevent relapse. However, only around 25% of patients treated with CBT recover and remain well for 1 year, leaving many patients at risk of further relapse (Roth & Fonagy, 2005). There is often a chronic relapsing course, with a 50% probability of relapse after just one depressive episode (Paykel et al., 1995), rising to 70-80% after two episodes (Judd, 1997).