None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The Expressive Writing technique involves writing about a stressful experience using both emotional and factual descriptive words utlising a journal format. The technique has been found to be helpful in improving psychological and physical health functioning in various populations, under experimental conditions. Researchers have yet to adequately explain how this technique leads to health benefits. The aim of this study is to investigate how the Expressive Writing task leads to positive health functioning in two distinct populations; cancer survivors and healthy individuals. The study outcomes will be helpful in identifying how this task can be adapted to be used as a therapeutic technique in clinical health settings, to enhance the well-being of Australians.
Interventions
There are 2 separate arms to this study:
1. Healthy adult participants randomized to the Expressive Writing (EW) [or to the Neutral Writing/ Control condition]. Healthy participants randomized to the EW condition are asked to write about a nominated personal stressful life experience on 4 consecutive weekly sessions for 20 mins per session.
2. Recently treated adult cancer patients. Similarly there are 2 writing conditions for the cancer arm of this trial. Participants randomized to the EW con
There are 2 separate arms to this study: 1. Healthy adult participants randomized to the Expressive Writing (EW) [or to the Neutral Writing/ Control condition]. Healthy participants randomized to the EW condition are asked to write about a nominated personal stressful life experience on 4 consecutive weekly sessions for 20 mins per session. 2. Recently treated adult cancer patients. Similarly there are 2 writing conditions for the cancer arm of this trial. Participants randomized to the EW condition are asked to write about their cancer experience over 4 consecutive weekly sessions for 20 mins per session.
Sponsors
Macquarie University
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 85 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. Healthy adult participants: (i) able to speak, read and write basic English; (ii) minimum 18 years or older 2. Cancer sub-sample (i) minimum 18 years or older (ii) completed all medical treatment for their cancer (any type of cancer) (iii) able to speak, read and write basic English (iv) medically fit to respond to assessment and intervention protocols
Exclusion criteria
Both sub-samples (healthy volunteers and cancer patients): i) no current suicidal ideation ii) absence of severe levels of psychopathology (Axis I or II disorders)
Outcome results
None listed