Effectiveness of mental visual imagery on autobiographical memory, episodic future thinking, and social problem-solving in patients with Multiple Sclerosis in Arak city

Moghadam, Shadi; Khoshakhlagh, Hassan; Rezaie Jamalouei , Hassan

Volume 13, Issue 2 (6-2025) jmsthums 2025, 13(2): 40-55 | Back to browse issues page

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Moghadam S, Khoshakhlagh H, Rezaie Jamalouei H. Effectiveness of mental visual imagery on autobiographical memory, episodic future thinking, and social problem-solving in patients with Multiple Sclerosis in Arak city. jmsthums 2025; 13 (2) :40-55
URL: http://jms.thums.ac.ir/article-1-1355-en.html

Effectiveness of mental visual imagery on autobiographical memory, episodic future thinking, and social problem-solving in patients with Multiple Sclerosis in Arak city

Shadi Moghadam¹

, Hassan Khoshakhlagh¹

, Hassan Rezaie Jamalouei²

1- Department of Psychology, Nae.C., Islamic Azad University, Naein, Iran
2- Department of Health Psychology,Na.C., Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran

Abstract: (8 Views)

Background & Aim: Common cognitive deficits in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) include impairments in memory, episodic future thinking, and executive functions. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of mental visual imagery on autobiographical memory, episodic future thinking, and social problem-solving in patients with MS in Arak City.
Methods: The study used a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a control group and a one-month follow-up period. The statistical population included all women with multiple sclerosis who were members of the MS Association in Arak in 2022. A total of 28 participants were selected using purposive sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (n = 14 each). Participants in the experimental group received six 80-minute sessions of mental visual imagery training (Ernst Protocol, 2012). The autobiographical memory, episodic future thinking, and social problem-solving tests were used for evaluation. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 and repeated-measures ANOVA.
Results: Most participants in the experimental group were married (57.1%) and held a high school diploma (57.1%). Half were aged 29–39 years, and 50% were employed. In both groups, the duration of illness was mostly 6 to 10 years. The results showed that mental visual imagery significantly improved autobiographical memory, episodic future thinking, and social problem-solving in patients with multiple sclerosis (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the positive effects of the intervention were maintained at the one-month follow-up (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The use of mental visual imagery as a therapeutic method is recommended for improving cognitive impairments in individuals with multiple sclerosis.

Keywords: Mental visual imagery, Autobiographical memory, Episodic future thinking, Social problem-solving, Multiple sclerosis

Full-Text [PDF 338 kb] (9 Downloads)

Type of Study: Research | Subject: Special
Received: 2024/10/3 | Accepted: 2025/02/15 | Published: 2025/11/16

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