Randomised controlled trial of expressive writing and quality of life in men and women treated for colon or rectal cancer

Stephen J. Lepore; Tracey A. Revenson; Katherine J. Roberts; Julie R. Pranikoff; Adam Davey

doi:10.1080/08870446.2014.971798

Randomised controlled trial of expressive writing and quality of life in men and women treated for colon or rectal cancer

Stephen J. Lepore, Tracey A. Revenson, Katherine J. Roberts, Julie R. Pranikoff, Adam Davey

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: This randomised trial tested (i) whether a home-based expressive writing (EW) intervention improves quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and (ii) whether the intervention is more beneficial for men or for people who feel constrained in disclosing cancer-related concerns and feelings.

Design: Patients treated for CRC were randomised to an EW (n = 101) or control writing (CW; n = 92) group. Assessments were completed at 1 month pre- and post-intervention. Sex and perceived social constraints on disclosure were evaluated as moderators.

Main outcome measures: Primary outcomes were depressive symptoms, sleep problems and quality of life indicators.

Results: Eighty-one per cent of participants completed all writing assignments. Consistent with hypotheses, relative to the CW group, participants in the EW group expressed more negative emotion in writing and rated their writings as more meaningful, personal and emotionally revealing. There were no significant main effects of EW or moderating effects of sex or social constraints on outcomes.

Conclusions: Although EW is feasible to use with persons who have CRC, it was not effective as a stand-alone psychotherapeutic intervention. Neither was it more effective for men nor for people who felt they could not freely disclose cancer-related concerns and feelings.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	284-300
Number of pages	17
Journal	Psychology and Health
Volume	30
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2014.971798
State	Published - Mar 4 2015
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

cancer
colorectal
expressive writing
psychological distress
quality of life
social constraints

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1080/08870446.2014.971798

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title = "Randomised controlled trial of expressive writing and quality of life in men and women treated for colon or rectal cancer",

abstract = "Objective: This randomised trial tested (i) whether a home-based expressive writing (EW) intervention improves quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and (ii) whether the intervention is more beneficial for men or for people who feel constrained in disclosing cancer-related concerns and feelings.Design: Patients treated for CRC were randomised to an EW (n = 101) or control writing (CW; n = 92) group. Assessments were completed at 1 month pre- and post-intervention. Sex and perceived social constraints on disclosure were evaluated as moderators.Main outcome measures: Primary outcomes were depressive symptoms, sleep problems and quality of life indicators.Results: Eighty-one per cent of participants completed all writing assignments. Consistent with hypotheses, relative to the CW group, participants in the EW group expressed more negative emotion in writing and rated their writings as more meaningful, personal and emotionally revealing. There were no significant main effects of EW or moderating effects of sex or social constraints on outcomes.Conclusions: Although EW is feasible to use with persons who have CRC, it was not effective as a stand-alone psychotherapeutic intervention. Neither was it more effective for men nor for people who felt they could not freely disclose cancer-related concerns and feelings.",

keywords = "cancer, colorectal, expressive writing, psychological distress, quality of life, social constraints",

author = "Lepore, {Stephen J.} and Revenson, {Tracey A.} and Roberts, {Katherine J.} and Pranikoff, {Julie R.} and Adam Davey",

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AU - Lepore, Stephen J.

AU - Revenson, Tracey A.

AU - Roberts, Katherine J.

AU - Pranikoff, Julie R.

AU - Davey, Adam

PY - 2015/3/4

Y1 - 2015/3/4

N2 - Objective: This randomised trial tested (i) whether a home-based expressive writing (EW) intervention improves quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and (ii) whether the intervention is more beneficial for men or for people who feel constrained in disclosing cancer-related concerns and feelings.Design: Patients treated for CRC were randomised to an EW (n = 101) or control writing (CW; n = 92) group. Assessments were completed at 1 month pre- and post-intervention. Sex and perceived social constraints on disclosure were evaluated as moderators.Main outcome measures: Primary outcomes were depressive symptoms, sleep problems and quality of life indicators.Results: Eighty-one per cent of participants completed all writing assignments. Consistent with hypotheses, relative to the CW group, participants in the EW group expressed more negative emotion in writing and rated their writings as more meaningful, personal and emotionally revealing. There were no significant main effects of EW or moderating effects of sex or social constraints on outcomes.Conclusions: Although EW is feasible to use with persons who have CRC, it was not effective as a stand-alone psychotherapeutic intervention. Neither was it more effective for men nor for people who felt they could not freely disclose cancer-related concerns and feelings.

AB - Objective: This randomised trial tested (i) whether a home-based expressive writing (EW) intervention improves quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and (ii) whether the intervention is more beneficial for men or for people who feel constrained in disclosing cancer-related concerns and feelings.Design: Patients treated for CRC were randomised to an EW (n = 101) or control writing (CW; n = 92) group. Assessments were completed at 1 month pre- and post-intervention. Sex and perceived social constraints on disclosure were evaluated as moderators.Main outcome measures: Primary outcomes were depressive symptoms, sleep problems and quality of life indicators.Results: Eighty-one per cent of participants completed all writing assignments. Consistent with hypotheses, relative to the CW group, participants in the EW group expressed more negative emotion in writing and rated their writings as more meaningful, personal and emotionally revealing. There were no significant main effects of EW or moderating effects of sex or social constraints on outcomes.Conclusions: Although EW is feasible to use with persons who have CRC, it was not effective as a stand-alone psychotherapeutic intervention. Neither was it more effective for men nor for people who felt they could not freely disclose cancer-related concerns and feelings.

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Randomised controlled trial of expressive writing and quality of life in men and women treated for colon or rectal cancer

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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