Guided Imagery. A psychoneuroimmunological intervention in holistic nursing practice.

Guided imagery is an independent nursing intervention that uses psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) principles to assist an individual in the management of distressing symptoms. The purpose of this article is to discuss the use of guided imagery in holistic nursing practice. The concepts of PNI are described and the basic steps of guided imagery are presented. PNI research and nursing research on guided imagery as an intervention are reviewed. The principles of guided imagery and PNI are applied to holistic nursing practice. Suggestions for future research methodologies, including psychological, neuroendocrine, and immunological measurements to evaluate the effectiveness of guided imagery, are offered. Rationale for using human immunodeficiency virus infection as a disease model to study the effectiveness of guided imagery is provided.