Expressive writing intervention and self-reported physical health out-comes - Results from a nationwide randomized controlled trial with breast cancer patients

PloS One
M B Jensen-JohansenRobert Zachariae

Abstract

The objective was to examine the effect of Expressive Writing Intervention (EWI) on self-reported physical symptoms and healthcare utilization in a nationwide randomized controlled trial with Danish women treated for primary breast cancer, and to explore participant characteristics related to emotion regulation as possible moderators of the effect. Women who had recently completed treatment for primary breast cancer (n = 507) were randomly assigned to three 20 min. home-based writing exercises, one week apart, focusing on emotional disclosure (EWI) of a distressing experience (their cancer or a non-cancer topic) or a non-disclosing topic (control). Outcomes were self-reported physical symptoms and healthcare utilization (visits and telephone contacts with GP) 3 and 9 months post-intervention. Potential moderators were repressive coping, alexithymia, rumination, social constraints, and writing topic. Results revealed no group by time interaction effects for any outcomes. Moderation analyses showed that 1) low alexithymic women in the EWI group showed larger decreases in GP telephone calls over time than both high alexithymic women and controls and 2) women in the EWI group writing about their own cancer, but not women writing ab...Continue Reading

References

Mar 1, 1990·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·J W PennebakerL K Sharp
Jul 1, 1994·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·S Nolen-HoeksemaJ Larson
Jun 1, 1993·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·J J Gross, R W Levenson
Feb 1, 1996·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·S J LeporeH A Wayment
Oct 16, 1996·Journal of the National Cancer Institute·E M BleikerH J Adèr
Dec 1, 1996·Obstetrics and Gynecology·W L HolcombD J Mostello
Mar 27, 2002·Psychosomatic Medicine·Kurt KroenkeJanet B W Williams
Jun 22, 2002·International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine·Harriet J RosenbergJames W Pennebaker
Oct 16, 2002·Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology·Annette L StantonJennifer L Austenfeld
Oct 1, 1956·Journal of Consulting Psychology·A W BENDIG
Oct 8, 2003·Patient Education and Counseling·E M Bleiker, H M van der Ploeg
Aug 6, 2004·Psycho-oncology·Robert ZachariaeMelsene Lehbrink
Nov 18, 2004·Health Psychology : Official Journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association·Sandra G ZakowskiRobert Flanigan
Mar 18, 2006·Scandinavian Journal of Psychology·Michael Martini Jørgensen, Robert Zachariae
Sep 1, 2006·Behavior Therapy·Eva-Maria GortnerJames W Pennebaker
Nov 1, 2006·Psychological Bulletin·Joanne Frattaroli
Jan 31, 2008·British Journal of Health Psychology·John WeinmanMary Dyson
Apr 16, 2008·Emotion·Denise M SloanJennifer L Dobbs
Jul 28, 2010·Health Psychology : Official Journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association·Carissa A LowLauren Gyllenhammer
Jul 3, 2015·Frontiers in Psychology·Lynn B Myers, Nazanin Derakshan

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Aug 31, 2018·Supportive Care in Cancer : Official Journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer·Luana La MarcaAdriano Schimmenti
Jan 10, 2021·Supportive Care in Cancer : Official Journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer·Ad A Kaptein

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

SPSS
Stata

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.