Using AI to create personalized imagery rescripting scripts for adults with anxiety and fear of failure
Official title: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study on AI-Based Imagery Rescripting for Childhood Criticism Memories
Run by University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw · NCT07189715 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 35 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 80 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Poznan, Wielkopolska) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 1, 2025 |
| Main results expected | November 30, 2025 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2025 |
| Registry record updated | September 24, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07189715 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a 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.
✕Probably 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.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
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.
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 gone: 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.
Who can join: the full rules
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 it's running
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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
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.