Using AI to create personalized imagery rescripting scripts for adults with anxiety and fear of failure
A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study on AI-Based Imagery Rescripting for Childhood Criticism Memories
NA · University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw · NCT07189715
This pilot will test whether AI-generated, personalized imagery rescripting audio can reduce emotional and physiological reactions in adults (18–35) with generalized anxiety, rumination, and fear of failure.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 80 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 35 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Poznan, Wielkopolska) |
| Trial ID | NCT07189715 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Eighty participants who report elevated anxiety and can recall childhood memories of parental criticism will provide two critical and two neutral memories. Personalized audio scripts based on those memories will be generated by the Gemini large language model and reviewed or edited by trained experimenters. Participants will be randomized to listen to therapist-modified (imagery rescripting) versions of the critical scripts or to hear the unmodified autobiographical content while skin conductance and self-reported emotions are recorded. Follow-up questionnaires one week later and clinician ratings of script quality will be used to gauge short-term emotional, physiological, and perceived therapeutic effects.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18–35 with elevated anxiety (GAD-7 ≥8) who experience rumination or fear of failure and can recall at least two childhood memories involving parental criticism.
Not a fit: People with PTSD, a history of prolonged physical or sexual abuse, current psychotherapy or psychopharmacology, or active substance abuse are unlikely to benefit or be eligible for this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce emotional and physiological reactivity to distressing autobiographical memories and offer a scalable way to personalize imagery rescripting.
How similar studies have performed: Imagery rescripting has prior evidence for reducing distress from intrusive autobiographical memories, but using large language models to generate therapeutic scripts is novel and largely untested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18-35 * Score ≥ 8 on GAD-7 (Plummer et al., 2016) * Ability to recall at least two childhood memories involving parental criticism Exclusion Criteria: * History of prolonged physical or sexual abuse * Current psychotherapy or psychopharmacology * PTSD diagnosis (DSM-5 screening) * Substance abuse (TAPS tool)
Where this trial is running
Poznan, Wielkopolska
- SWPS University (University of Social Sciences and Humanities); Poznań Laboratory of Affective Neuroscience — Poznan, Wielkopolska, Poland (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Stanisław Karkosz, MA — SWPS University
- Study coordinator: Stanisław Karkosz, MA
- Email: skarkosz@swps.edu.pl
- Phone: +48 570 668 996
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Generalized Anxiety, Fear of Failure, Rumination, Intrusive Autobiographical Memories, Imagery Rescripting, AI