Imagery Rescripting for Traumatic Panic Attack Memories

The DSM-5 Panic Disorder Scale (American Psychiatric Association, 2013; Turkish validation by Balıkçı et al., 2017) was used to measure the severity of panic disorder symptoms over the past 7 days. The scale is a 10-item, single-factor measure. The internal consistency coefficient (Cronbach's alpha) for the Turkish version was reported as .96. Higher scores reflect greater severity of panic disorder symptoms.

Assessed by recording Heart Rate (beats per minute, BpM) an indicator of autonomic nervous system arousal during the panic attack memory writing/recall task. Data are recorded using NeuLog Heart Rate & Pulse Logger Sensor (NUL-208) attached to the ring finger of the non-dominant hand. Higher values of heart rate reflect greater autonomic arousal and physiological reactivity during traumatic memory recall.

Assessed by recording Skin Conductance (microSiemens) as indicators of autonomic nervous system arousal during the panic attack memory writing/recall task. Data are recorded using NeuLog NeuLog GSR Logger Sensor (NUL-217) attached to the index finger of the non-dominant hand. Higher values of the skin conductance reflect greater autonomic arousal and physiological reactivity during traumatic memory recall.

To assess the phenomenological properties of autobiographical memories, the 63-item Autobiographical Memory Characteristics Questionnaire (Boyacıoğlu & Akfırat, 2015) was utilized. The questionnaire comprises 8 subscales: narrative coherence, reliving, vividness, perceptual detail, field perspective, observer perspective, emotional valence, and emotional intensity. Together, these subscales account for 72% of the total scale variance. In the original validation study, the internal consistency coefficients (Cronbach's alpha) for the subscales ranged from .66 to .97.

Assessed using the 7-item short form of the Centrality of Event Scale (CES) (Berntsen & Rubin, 2006; Turkish adaptation by Boyacıoğlu & Aktaş, 2018) to measure the extent to which the traumatic panic memory is integrated into the participant's identity and life story (Cronbach alpha = .89 for negative memories). Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale, with total scores ranging from 7 to 35. Higher scores reflect greater event centrality.

Assessed using the 22-item Turkish version of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) (Weiss & Marmar, 1997; Turkish adaptation by Çorapçıoğlu et al., 2006) to evaluate traumatic stress symptoms associated with panic memories over the past week. The scale consists of 3 subscales: Intrusion, Avoidance, and Hyperarousal. Internal consistency values range from .88 to .94. Total scores range from 0 to 88, with higher scores indicating greater severity of post-traumatic stress symptoms.

Assessed using the 17-item Turkish version of the General Self-Efficacy Scale (Sherer et al., 1982; Turkish adaptation by Yıldırım & Özgür İlhan, 2010) to evaluate individuals' belief in their ability to cope with challenging life events. The scale demonstrates a three-factor structure accounting for 41.47% of the total variance, with an internal consistency coefficient of Cronbach alpha = .80. Higher scores indicate higher levels of perceived general self-efficacy.

Assessed using a single-item question rated on a 6-point Likert scale (ranging from 0 = "Not confident at all" to 5 = "Completely confident"), adapted based on the work by Helbig-Lang (2012). The item asks: "How confident do you feel in your ability to cope with a potential panic attack in the future?" Higher scores reflect greater perceived self-efficacy in managing future panic attacks.