The current study proposes to directly measure how processing after participating in written disclosure about a traumatic life event affects physical and psychological outcomes.
Previous research has established the potential for narrative writing about traumatic events to result in positive benefits for physical and psychological health. Research has also provided evidence that written disclosure may reduce post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Several mechanisms of action have been proposed to explain why written disclosure produces positive benefits, but all have focused on processes occurring during the writing session. It has been suggested, however, that additional processing may occur after the writing exercises are over, yet no research has studied the influence of this processing on outcomes. The current study proposes to directly measure how processing after participating in written disclosure affects physical and psychological outcomes.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
49
Individuals will be writing about their most traumatic life event for 3 consecutive days for 20 minutes each. Those in the assigned group will be given instructions and weekly reminders to continue to think about their most traumatic event.
Individuals will be writing about their most traumatic life event for 3 consecutive days for 20 minutes each. Those in the spontaneous group will be given no further instructions.
The University of Mississippi
University, Mississippi, United States
Level of PTSD symptoms as measured by the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale
Time frame: 1 month after final writing session
Physical health
Physical health as measured by the Pennebaker Inventory of Limibic Languidness (PILL)
Time frame: 1 month after final writing session
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