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Research

Functional imagery training was developed by research teams led by Professors Jackie Andrade and Jon May at the University of Plymouth, UK, and Professor David Kavanagh at Queensland University of Technology in Australia.

It began with our quest to understand drug cravings. Two decades of scientific research showed that it is multisensory mental imagery that gives cravings their power. We wanted to harness that power to create strong desires – ‘cravings’ – for functional goals and for the behaviours needed to achieve them. FIT does this by combining the empathic solution-focused style of motivational interviewing with mental imagery training, helping the person develop highly charged realistic imagery of how they will achieve the goals that matter most to them. FIT then trains the person to use and adapt their imagery to stay motivated as their situation changes, providing a mental toolkit for sustained benefits.

  • Kavanagh, D. J., Andrade, J. & May, J. (2005) Imaginary relish and exquisite torture: The Elaborated Intrusion theory of desire, Psychological Review, 112(2), 446-467
  • May, J., Kavanagh, D. J., & Andrade, J. (2015). The Elaborated Intrusion Theory of Desire: A 10-year retrospective and implications for addiction treatments. Addictive Behaviors, 44, 29-34.
  • Mansson, V., Andrade, J., Jayaram-Lindström, N., & Berman, A. H. (2022). “I see myself”: Craving imagery among individuals with addictive disorders. Journal of Addictive Diseases, 1-14.
  • May, J., Andrade, J., Kavanagh, D. J., Feeney, G. F. X., Gullo, M., Statham, D. J., Skorka-Brown, J., Connolly, J. M., Cassimatis, M., Young, R. McD., & Connor, J. P. (2014). The Craving Experience Questionnaire: A brief, theory-based measure of consummatory desire and craving. Addiction, 109, 728–735
  • Boomsma, C., Pahl, S., & Andrade, J. (2016). Imagining Change: An integrative approach towards explaining the motivational role of mental imagery in pro-environmental behaviour. Frontiers in Psychology: Environmental Psychology section. Manuscript ID: 224650. Nov 17;7:1780. eCollection 2016
  • Connor, J.P., Kavanagh, D.J., Andrade, J., May, J., Feeney, G.F.X, Gullo, M.J., White, A.M., Fry, M-L., Drennan, J., Previte, J., Tjondronegoro, D. (2014). Alcohol consumption in young adults: the role of multisensory imagery. Addictive Behaviors, 39(3), 721-724
  • Van Dillen L.F. & Andrade J. (2016). Derailing the streetcar named desire. Cognitive distractions reduce individual differences in cravings and unhealthy snacking in response to palatable food, Appetite, 96, 102–110
  • Skorka-Brown, J., Andrade, J., Whalley, B. & May, J. (2015). Playing Tetris decreases drug and other cravings in real world settings. Addictive Behaviors, 51, 165-170.
  • Skorka-Brown, J., Andrade, J. & May, J. (2014). Playing 'Tetris' reduces the strength, frequency and vividness of naturally occurring cravings. Appetite. 76, 161-165
  • Hamilton, J., Fawson, S., May, J., Andrade, J. & Kavanagh, D. J. (2013). Brief guided imagery and body scanning interventions reduce food cravings. Appetite, 71, 158-162.
  • •i, J. L., Geiles, D., & Saulsman, L. M. (2021). Mental imagery-based episodic simulation amplifies motivation and behavioural engagement in planned reward activities. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 145, 103947. 
  • Solbrig, L., Whalley, B., Kavanagh, D. J., May, J., Parkin, T., Jones, R., & Andrade, J. (2019). Functional Imagery Training versus Motivational Interviewing for weight loss: A randomised controlled trial of brief individual interventions for overweight and obesity. International Journal of Obesity, 43, 883–894 
  • Rhodes, J., Nedza, K., May, J., Jenkins, T., & Stone, T. (2021). From couch to ultra marathon: using functional imagery training to enhance motivation. Journal of Imagery Research in Sport and Physical Activity, 16(1).
  • Andrade et al., (2025) Early phase testing of functional imagery training as an intervention for anxiety. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 104786. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2025.104786
  • Andrade, J., Khalil, M., Dickson, J., May, J. & Kavanagh, D.J. (2016). Functional Imagery Training to reduce snacking: Testing a novel motivational intervention based on Elaborated Intrusion theory. Appetite, 100, 256-262
  • Di Simplicio, M., Appiah‐Kusi, E., Wilkinson, P., Watson, P., Meiser‐Stedman, C., Kavanagh, D. J., & Holmes, E. A. (2020). Imaginator: A proof‐of‐concept feasibility trial of a brief imagery‐based psychological intervention for young people who self‐Harm. Suicide and Life‐Threatening Behavior, 50(3), 724-740.
  • Shuai,R., Bakou, A. E., Andrade, J., Hides, L. & Hogarth, L. (2021). Brief online negative affect focused functional imagery training improves two-week drinking outcomes in hazardous student drinkers: a pilot randomised controlled trial. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 1-11
  • Rhodes J May J, & Booth A (2020) 'Penalty Success in Professional Soccer: A Randomised Comparison between Imagery Methodologies' Journal of Imagery Research in Sport and Physical Activity 15, (1)
  • Solbrig, L., Whalley, B., Kavanagh, D. J., May, J., Parkin, T., Jones, R., & Andrade, J. (2019). Functional Imagery Training versus Motivational Interviewing for weight loss: A randomised controlled trial of brief individual interventions for overweight and obesity. International Journal of Obesity, 43, 883–894
  • Rhodes, J., May, J., Andrade, J., Kavanagh, D.J. (2018). Enhancing grit through Functional Imagery Training in professional soccer. Sports Psychologist, 32, 220-225. 
  • Dhanda, A., Andrade, J. ... Creanor, S. (2024). Mental Imagery to Reduce Alcohol-related harm in patients with alcohol use disorder and alcohol-related liver damaGE: the MIRAGE randomised pilot trial results. BMJ Open Gastroenterology. 
  • Gunn H, Stevens K N, Creanor S, Andrade J, Paul L, Miller L, Green C, Ewings P, Barton A, Berrow M, Vickery J, Marshall B, Zajicek J, & Freeman J. (2021). Balance Right in Multiple Sclerosis (BRiMS): a feasibility randomised controlled trial of a falls prevention programme. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 7(1), 1-15 
  • Parham, S., Kavanagh, D. J., Shimada, M., May, J. & Andrade, J. (2017). Qualitative analysis of feedback on Functional Imagery Training: A novel motivational intervention for type 2 diabetes. Psychology and Health. 33, 416-429. doi: 10.1080/08870446.2017.1360493. Epub 2017 Aug 8.
  • Rhodes J, Nedza K, May J & Clements L (2024) Imagery training for athletes with low imagery abilities, Journal of Applied Sport Psychology 1-14