A randomized controlled trial of emotionally expressive writing for women with metastatic breast cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To test the effects of emotionally expressive writing in a randomized controlled trial of metastatic breast cancer patients and to determine whether effects of the intervention varied as a function of perceived social support or time since metastatic diagnosis.

Design

Women (N = 62) living with Stage IV breast cancer were randomly assigned to write about cancer-related emotions (EMO; n = 31) or the facts of their diagnosis and treatment (CTL; n = 31). Participants wrote at home for four 20-min sessions within a 3-week interval.

Main outcome measures

Depressive symptoms, cancer-related intrusive thoughts, somatic symptoms, and sleep quality at 3 months postintervention.

Results

No significant main effects of experimental condition were observed. A sign

SUBMITTER: Low CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3128513 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature