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Yao T, Li J, Su W, Li X, Liu C, Chen M. The effects of different themes of self-disclosure on health outcomes in cancer patients-A meta-analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2024; 59:267-278. [PMID: 38012069 DOI: 10.1002/ijop.13091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Self-disclosure (SD) is a common psychological intervention that involves expressing the patient's feelings and thoughts. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of different themes of SD on cancer patients. We searched eight databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library Trials, Web of Science, CINAHL, Medline, EMBASE, CNKI and Wanfang from inception to July 2022. Other sources included clinical data registers. The Cochrane Collaboration's tool was used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. RevMan Analysis software 5.3 was used for data analysis. The protocol of this meta-analysis has been registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022339661). Twenty-two RCTs studies were included. The pooled results demonstrated that self-regulation self-disclosure (SRD) had significant effects on patients' sleep quality, benefit-finding, anxiety and quality of life (QOL), whereas emotional disclosure (ED) did not. Furthermore, enhanced self-regulation self-disclosure (ESRD) or cancer-related self-disclosure (CD) significantly improved patients' QOL, although health education self-disclosure (HED) and positive self-disclosure (PD) did not. Our study suggests that different themes of SD have varied effects on patients, but it remains unclear which themes to use at what point in time. Future research should investigate what themes of SD are adopted at different points in time and the duration of different periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianying Yao
- Department of Clinical Nursing, School of Nursing, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiarong Li
- 120 Emergency Command Center, Yantai, China
| | - Wang Su
- Department of Scientific research, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Li
- Department of Clinical Nursing, School of Nursing, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Changying Liu
- Department of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Mingxia Chen
- Department of Clinical Nursing, School of Nursing, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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Abu-Odah H, Su JJ, Wang M, Sheffield D, Molassiotis A. Systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of expressive writing disclosure on cancer and palliative care patients' health-related outcomes. Support Care Cancer 2023; 32:70. [PMID: 38157056 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-023-08255-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This review aimed to synthesize the available evidence on the effectiveness of expressive writing (EW) on health outcomes of patients with cancer. METHODS A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Six databases were searched from 1986 to 9 July 2022. The searches were updated on 3 October 2023. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and ROBINS-I tool for non-RCTs Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Narrative synthesis of outcomes was performed where meta-analysis was not appropriate. RESULTS Thirty-four studies with 4316 participants were identified, including 31 RCTs and three non-RCTs. Twenty-one studies focused on women with breast cancer; the remainder recruited people with various cancer types. There was a significant improvement in fatigue (SMD = - 0.3, 95% CI - 0.55 to - 0.66, P = .002), passive mood (MD = - 3.26, 95% CI = - 5.83 to - 0.69, P = 0.001), and the physical dimension of quality of life (MD = 3.21, 95% CI 0.18 to 6.25, P = 0.04) but not for anxiety, depression, and global quality of life among patients who participated in EW when compared with control groups. CONCLUSION Findings showed some benefits of EW for people with cancer, but not necessarily in anxiety or depression. Heterogeneity in the delivery of interventions and their content, and shortcomings in the methodologies used highlight the need for stronger evidence in the field through high-quality trials and consistencies in the protocol, focusing on outcomes that this review highlighted as potential outcome targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hammoda Abu-Odah
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jing Jing Su
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Mian Wang
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - David Sheffield
- School of Psychology, University of Derby, Derby, DE22 1GB, UK
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Zhang C, Xu S, Wen X, Liu M. The effect of expressive writing on Chinese cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trails. Clin Psychol Psychother 2023; 30:1357-1368. [PMID: 37345260 DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Cancer patients in China encounter distinctive challenges stemming from cultural disparities and variations in the healthcare systems. This meta-analysis aimed to provide a synthesis of the expressive writing (EW) interventions delivered to Chinese cancer patients and assess the pooled effect of EW on their well-being. The review adheres to the latest PRISMA 2020 guidelines to ensure transparency and rigour. Randomized control trials (RCTs) published before 1 April 2023, and meeting the inclusion criteria were included. Keywords searching was performed in both English and Chinese electronic databases. Ten RCTs were identified and included in the analysis. The results showed that EW usually encompassed four to six writing sessions; the most common writing themes were 'emotional expression', 'cognitive appraisal', 'benefit finding', 'coping strategies' and 'looking to the future'. The meta-analysis suggested that EW had a substantial impact on reducing anxiety levels (Hedges' g = -1.22, 95% CI [-1.54, -0.90], I2 = 0.00%). It is worth noting that although the results of these studies could not be statistically synthesized, their individual findings suggest that EW may be beneficial in reducing anxiety, self-perceived burden and depressive symptoms, as well as increasing self-efficacy in Chinese cancer patients. In conclusion, this review highlights the importance and effectiveness of Ewin alleviating anxiety among Chinese cancer patients and underscores the potential benefits of incorporating EW into comprehensive care programmes for cancer patients in China. More RCTs are needed to explore the broader impact of EW in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Zhang
- Department of Social Work and Social Policy, School of Sociology and Population Studies, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Shuo Xu
- Department of Social Work and Social Policy, School of Sociology and Population Studies, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyue Wen
- Department of Social Work and Social Policy, School of Sociology and Population Studies, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Mowen Liu
- Department of Social Work and Social Policy, School of Sociology and Population Studies, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
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Wu Y, Yang D, Jian B, Li C, Liu L, Li W, Li X, Zhou C. Can emotional expressivity and writing content predict beneficial effects of expressive writing among breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy? A secondary analysis of randomized controlled trial data from China. Psychol Med 2023; 53:1527-1541. [PMID: 34425924 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291721003111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To explore whether emotional expressivity and the patterns of language use could predict benefits from expressive writing (EW) of breast cancer (BC) patients in a culture that strongly discourages emotional disclosure. METHODS Data were obtained from a recent trial in which we compared the health outcomes between a prolonged EW group (12 sessions) and a standard EW group (four sessions) (n = 56 per group) of BC patients receiving chemotherapy. The Chinese texts were tokenized using the THU Lexical Analyser for Chinese. Then, LIWC2015 was used to quantify positive and negative affect word use. RESULTS Our first hypothesis that BC patients with higher levels of emotional expressivity tended to use higher levels of positive and negative affect words in texts was not supported (r = 0.067, p = 0.549 and r = 0.065, p = 0.559, respectively). The level of emotional expressivity has a significant effect on the quality of life (QOL), and those who used more positive or fewer negative affective words in texts had a better QOL (all p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was identified in physical and psychological well-being (all p > 0.05). Furthermore, the patterns of affective word use during EW did not mediate the effects of emotional expressivity on health outcomes (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the level of emotional expressivity and the pattern of affective word use could be factors that may moderate the effects of EW on QOL, which may help clinicians identify the individuals most likely to benefit from such writing exercises in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanni Wu
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | | | - Biao Jian
- China Electronic Product Reliability and Environmental Testing Research Institute, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Chaixiu Li
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Liping Liu
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Wenji Li
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Xiaojin Li
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Chunlan Zhou
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
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5
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Yang Y, Lin Y, Sikapokoo GO, Min SH, Caviness-Ashe N, Zhang J, Ledbetter L, Nolan TS. Social relationships and their associations with affective symptoms of women with breast cancer: A scoping review. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0272649. [PMID: 35939490 PMCID: PMC9359609 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Problems in affective and cognitive functioning are among the most common concurrent symptoms that breast cancer patients report. Social relationships may provide some explanations of the clinical variability in affective-cognitive symptoms. Evidence suggests that social relationships (functional and structural aspects) can be associated with patients' affective-cognitive symptoms; however, such an association has not been well studied in the context of breast cancer. PURPOSE The purpose of this scoping review was to address the following question: What social relationships are associated with affective-cognitive symptoms of women with breast cancer? METHODS This scoping review used the framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley and PRISMA-Sc. Studies published by February 2022 were searched using four databases: MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase (Elsevier), PsycINFO (EBSCOhost), and Web of Science (Clarivate). All retrieved citations were independently screened and eligibility for inclusion was determined by study team members. Extracted data included research aims, design, sample, type and measures of social relationships (functional and structural), and the association between social relationships and affective-cognitive symptoms. RESULTS A total of 70 studies were included. Affective symptoms were positively associated with social support, family functioning, quality of relationships, social networks, and social integration, whereas the negative association was found with social constraints. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest positive social relationships may mitigate affective symptoms of women with breast cancer. Thus, health care providers need to educate patients about the importance of building solid social relationships and encourage them to participate in a supportive network of friends and family members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yesol Yang
- Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-James, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Yufen Lin
- Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | | | - Se Hee Min
- School of Nursing, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Nicole Caviness-Ashe
- School of Nursing, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Jing Zhang
- College of Nursing, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Leila Ledbetter
- Duke University Medical Center Library, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Timiya S. Nolan
- College of Nursing, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
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Batista J, Marinai JC, Gouveia M, Oliveira JT, Gonçalves MM. Write and Let Go: An Online Writing Program for University Students. Front Psychol 2022; 13:874600. [PMID: 35874340 PMCID: PMC9301038 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.874600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There are a plethora of studies on expressive writing and positive writing interventions, but few have addressed the combination of both paradigms. Additionally, research on the role of ambivalence toward change in the context of writing-based interventions is lacking. Ambivalence toward change is a natural movement of approaching and avoiding change that may occur in various situations. In psychotherapy, its resolution is associated with successful outcomes. Aim This study tested the efficacy of a combination of expressive and positive writing paradigms in an internet-based intervention to improve university students' mental health. Additionally, focusing participants on a current, unresolved problem allowed us to explore the possible role of ambivalence toward change as a mediator of the intervention's results. Methods We recruited 172 participants who were randomly divided into experimental (n = 85) and control (n = 87) groups. The intervention consisted of the identification of a current problem and four writing tasks on consecutive days. Assessment was conducted at baseline and posttest in both groups and at follow-up in the experimental group. Participants in the experimental condition were also assessed after each task. Measures of anxiety, depression, rumination, ambivalence toward change, distress, and wellbeing (optimism, affect, and satisfaction with life) were collected. Results Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) showed that participants in the experimental group had a significant decrease from baseline to posttest in ambivalence toward change and rumination when compared with the control group. These results were maintained at follow-up. No differences were found in the remaining measures. Within the experimental group, ambivalence toward change, rumination, and distress significantly decreased throughout the intervention and the exploratory mediation analysis indicated that ambivalence toward change partially mediated the improvements in rumination and distress. Discussion Considering different perspectives about a current problem and using a combination of expressive and positive writing fostered the reduction of ambivalence toward change and rumination. Ambivalence toward change reduction after the second writing task may have created optimal conditions for the subsequent decrease in rumination and distress. Future studies should replicate this finding and dismantle the components that are more adequate in changing these variables.
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Tutino RC, Saracino RM, Kelman J, Schofield EA, Roth AJ, Nelson CJ. Cancer and aging: Reflections for elders- Expressive writing intervention: A pilot study. J Geriatr Oncol 2022; 13:706-714. [PMID: 35246404 PMCID: PMC10108097 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgo.2022.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The Cancer and Aging: Reflections for Elders Expressive Writing Intervention (CARE-Express) was developed to enhance coping and minimize psychological distress in older adults with cancer. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the feasibility and initial efficacy of CARE-Express. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seventy-one distressed older adults (≥70) with cancer were assigned to CARE-Express (n = 41) or the Enhanced Social Work Control (ESWC) arm (n = 30). Participants completed five telephone sessions over seven weeks and were assessed on psychosocial variables at baseline, post-intervention, and four months post study enrollment. Feasibility was assessed by examining rates of eligibility, acceptance, retention, assessment, and fidelity. Initial efficacy was evaluated using standardized effect sizes. RESULTS Adequate rates of acceptance (29%), eligibility (66%), retention (90%), assessment (70% at post-intervention, 63% at four month follow-up), and fidelity (97%) were observed. At post-intervention, participants receiving CARE-Express reported less depression compared to ESWC (d = 0.69, p = 0.01) and lower demoralization (d = 0.50, p = 0.06). A small/moderate effect was demonstrated for increased total spirituality scores (d = 0.41, p = 0.07), meaning/peace (d = 0.32, p = 0.20) and faith (d = 0.35, p = 0.07). The CARE-Express group reported greater reductions in behavioral disengagement (d = 0.44, p = 0.06), while ESWC demonstrated a small effect for active coping (d = 0.21, p = 0.31). At four months, differential effects of CARE-Express had attenuated, though small/moderate, effects in favor of CARE-Express remained. CONCLUSION Results support the feasibility of CARE-Express and its potential positive impact on psychological well-being. TRIAL REGISTRATION Registered at the US National Institutes of Health (ClinicalTrials.gov) #NCT00984321 on September 25, 2009.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca C Tutino
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY, United States; Fordham University, 441 East Fordham Road, Dealy 226, Bronx, NY, United States.
| | - Rebecca M Saracino
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY, United States
| | - Judith Kelman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY, United States
| | - Elizabeth A Schofield
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY, United States
| | - Andrew J Roth
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY, United States
| | - Christian J Nelson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY, United States
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Takano T, Matsuda A, Ishizuka N, Ozaki Y, Suyama K, Tanabe Y, Miura Y, Matsushima E. Effectiveness of self-help workbook intervention on quality of life in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: results of a randomized controlled trial. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:588. [PMID: 34022838 PMCID: PMC8141256 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08333-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A self-help workbook is expected to support cancer patients to cope with physical and psychosocial distress, to facilitate communication with medical staff, and to improve quality of life (QOL). We conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a self-help workbook intervention on QOL and survival. Methods From June 2014 to March 2015, patients with breast, colorectal, gastric, and lung cancer receiving outpatient chemotherapy were randomized into an intervention group (n = 100) or control group (n = 100). Intervention group participants received workbooks originally made for this study, read advice on how to cope with distress, and filled out questionnaires on the workbooks periodically. EORTC QLQ-C30 was evaluated at baseline, at 12 weeks, and at 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was Global Health Status / QOL scale (GQOL). Results No significant interaction was observed between the intervention and time in terms of GQOL or any of the functional scales. Among the 69 patients who continued cytotoxic chemotherapy at 24 weeks, the intervention was significantly associated with improved emotional functioning scores (P = 0.0007). Overall survival was not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions Self-help workbook intervention was feasible in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Although the effect of the intervention was limited, a post-hoc subset analysis suggested that the intervention may improve emotional functioning among patients who receive long-term cytotoxic chemotherapy. Trial registration UMIN Clinical Trials Registry, UMIN000012842. Registered 14 January 2014.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshimi Takano
- Department of Medical Oncology, Toranomon Hospital, 2-2-2 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8470, Japan. .,Section of Liaison Psychiatry and Palliative Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Ayako Matsuda
- Department of Hygiene and Public Health, School of Medicine, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Noriko Ishizuka
- Section of Liaison Psychiatry and Palliative Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yukinori Ozaki
- Department of Medical Oncology, Toranomon Hospital, 2-2-2 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8470, Japan
| | - Koichi Suyama
- Department of Medical Oncology, Toranomon Hospital, 2-2-2 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8470, Japan.,Kumamoto University Hospital Cancer Center, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Yuko Tanabe
- Department of Medical Oncology, Toranomon Hospital, 2-2-2 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8470, Japan
| | - Yuji Miura
- Department of Medical Oncology, Toranomon Hospital, 2-2-2 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8470, Japan
| | - Eisuke Matsushima
- Section of Liaison Psychiatry and Palliative Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
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Jones JK, Evans JF, Barfield RC. The Utility of Verbal Therapy for Pediatric Cancer Patients and Survivors: Expressive Writing, Video Narratives, and Bibliotherapy Exercises. Front Pediatr 2021; 9:579003. [PMID: 33614548 PMCID: PMC7889798 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.579003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Childhood cancer is a stressful experience. No pediatric patient, however, should be made to feel as if their concerns and feelings about their cancer experience must be bottled up inside. Importantly, talking and writing about one's illness has myriad implications for young cancer patients and survivors. The most salient of these may include increased understanding of one's condition as well as improved physical and cognitive symptoms (e.g., lowered depression, decreased anxiety, and an enhanced quality of life overall). This literature review explores three promising avenues for verbal therapy in the pediatric oncology setting: expressive writing, video narratives, and bibliotherapy exercises. Several recent studies, covering verbal therapy methods from illness blogging to book interventions, are referenced and discussed. Ultimately, we conclude that expressive writing, video narratives, and bibliotherapy exercises are valuable, feasible, inexpensive, and acceptable tools for patients and survivors of childhood cancer to facilitate self-expression-and to find meaning in the uncertainty and anxiety that cancer inherently fosters. We recommend that future studies investigate this theme so that we may improve quality of life and mental health for pediatric cancer patients and survivors worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill K Jones
- Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States.,Duke Integrative Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - John F Evans
- Duke Integrative Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Raymond C Barfield
- Memorial Health University Medical Center (Palliative Care), Savannah, GA, United States
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10
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Abrahams HJG, Knoop H, Schreurs M, Aaronson NK, Jacobsen PB, Newton RU, Courneya KS, Aitken JF, Arving C, Brandberg Y, Chambers SK, Gielissen MFM, Glimelius B, Goedendorp MM, Graves KD, Heiney SP, Horne R, Hunter MS, Johansson B, Northouse LL, Oldenburg HSA, Prins JB, Savard J, van Beurden M, van den Berg SW, Verdonck-de Leeuw IM, Buffart LM. Moderators of the effect of psychosocial interventions on fatigue in women with breast cancer and men with prostate cancer: Individual patient data meta-analyses. Psychooncology 2020; 29:1772-1785. [PMID: 33448521 DOI: 10.1002/pon.5522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Psychosocial interventions can reduce cancer-related fatigue effectively. However, it is still unclear if intervention effects differ across subgroups of patients. These meta-analyses aimed at evaluating moderator effects of (a) sociodemographic characteristics, (b) clinical characteristics, (c) baseline levels of fatigue and other symptoms, and (d) intervention-related characteristics on the effect of psychosocial interventions on cancer-related fatigue in patients with non-metastatic breast and prostate cancer. METHODS Data were retrieved from the Predicting OptimaL cAncer RehabIlitation and Supportive care (POLARIS) consortium. Potential moderators were studied with meta-analyses of pooled individual patient data from 14 randomized controlled trials through linear mixed-effects models with interaction tests. The analyses were conducted separately in patients with breast (n = 1091) and prostate cancer (n = 1008). RESULTS Statistically significant, small overall effects of psychosocial interventions on fatigue were found (breast cancer: β = -0.19 [95% confidence interval (95%CI) = -0.30; -0.08]; prostate cancer: β = -0.11 [95%CI = -0.21; -0.00]). In both patient groups, intervention effects did not differ significantly by sociodemographic or clinical characteristics, nor by baseline levels of fatigue or pain. For intervention-related moderators (only tested among women with breast cancer), statistically significant larger effects were found for cognitive behavioral therapy as intervention strategy (β = -0.27 [95%CI = -0.40; -0.15]), fatigue-specific interventions (β = -0.48 [95%CI = -0.79; -0.18]), and interventions that only targeted patients with clinically relevant fatigue (β = -0.85 [95%CI = -1.40; -0.30]). CONCLUSIONS Our findings did not provide evidence that any selected demographic or clinical characteristic, or baseline levels of fatigue or pain, moderated effects of psychosocial interventions on fatigue. A specific focus on decreasing fatigue seems beneficial for patients with breast cancer with clinically relevant fatigue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harriët J G Abrahams
- Department of Medical Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Knoop
- Department of Medical Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maartje Schreurs
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Neil K Aaronson
- Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Paul B Jacobsen
- Division of Cancer Control and Population Science, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Robert U Newton
- Exercise Medicine Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Kerry S Courneya
- Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Joanne F Aitken
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia.,Cancer Council Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Institute for Resilient Regions, University of Southern Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Cecilia Arving
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Yvonne Brandberg
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Suzanne K Chambers
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia.,Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Institute for Resilient Regions, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield, Queensland, Australia.,Health and Wellness Institute, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | | | - Bengt Glimelius
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Martine M Goedendorp
- Department of Health Science, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Health Psychology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kristi D Graves
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Sue P Heiney
- College of Nursing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
| | - Rob Horne
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK
| | - Myra S Hunter
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Birgitta Johansson
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Hester S A Oldenburg
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van, Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Judith B Prins
- Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud, Institute for Health Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Josée Savard
- School of Psychology, Université Laval and Laval University Cancer Research Center, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Marc van Beurden
- Department of Gynecology, Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Irma M Verdonck-de Leeuw
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Laurien M Buffart
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Exercise Medicine Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia.,Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Physiology, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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11
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Wu Y, Liu L, Zheng W, Zheng C, Xu M, Chen X, Li W, Xie L, Zhang P, Zhu X, Zhan C, Zhou C. Effect of prolonged expressive writing on health outcomes in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Support Care Cancer 2020; 29:1091-1101. [PMID: 32601853 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-020-05590-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aims to evaluate the effects of prolonged expressive writing on health outcomes in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy to help understand how the dosage of an expressive writing intervention might moderate its effects. METHODS A total of 112 breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy were randomly allocated to the expressive writing group (n = 56) or the prolonged expressive writing group (n = 56). The expressive writing group received the standard expressive writing intervention based on Pennebaker's prompt to write for at least 20 min over four consecutive days (4 sessions). The prolonged expressive writing group used a modified prompt: write for at least 20 min 3 times a week over a 4-week period (12 sessions); patients could choose whether to write on consecutive days or not. All participants were required to write about their stressor-related upsetting or traumatic feelings about breast cancer. Outcomes were assessed and compared at baseline, as well as 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months postintervention. RESULTS There was no significant difference in the patients' quality of life, or physical and psychological wellbeing between the expressive writing group and the prolonged expressive writing group at any time point (all p > .05). The quality of life of breast cancer patients significantly decreased in the two groups over time (F = 40.64, p < .001). CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that the writing dosage does not moderate the effects of expressive writing on breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION ChiCTR1800016278.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanni Wu
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, NO.1838 North Guangzhou Avenue, Baiyun District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Liping Liu
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, NO.1838 North Guangzhou Avenue, Baiyun District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Wanting Zheng
- Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunrao Zheng
- Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Xu
- Cancer Center of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaohong Chen
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenji Li
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, NO.1838 North Guangzhou Avenue, Baiyun District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Lijun Xie
- Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Pengyan Zhang
- Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoli Zhu
- Cancer Center of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuanglian Zhan
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunlan Zhou
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, NO.1838 North Guangzhou Avenue, Baiyun District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China.
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12
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Buffart LM, Schreurs MAC, Abrahams HJG, Kalter J, Aaronson NK, Jacobsen PB, Newton RU, Courneya KS, Armes J, Arving C, Braamse AM, Brandberg Y, Dekker J, Ferguson RJ, Gielissen MF, Glimelius B, Goedendorp MM, Graves KD, Heiney SP, Horne R, Hunter MS, Johansson B, Northouse LL, Oldenburg HS, Prins JB, Savard J, van Beurden M, van den Berg SW, Brug J, Knoop H, Verdonck-de Leeuw IM. Effects and moderators of coping skills training on symptoms of depression and anxiety in patients with cancer: Aggregate data and individual patient data meta-analyses. Clin Psychol Rev 2020; 80:101882. [PMID: 32640368 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study evaluated the effects of coping skills training (CST) on symptoms of depression and anxiety in cancer patients, and investigated moderators of the effects. METHODS Overall effects and intervention-related moderators were studied in meta-analyses of pooled aggregate data from 38 randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Patient-related moderators were examined using linear mixed-effect models with interaction tests on pooled individual patient data (n = 1953) from 15 of the RCTs. RESULTS CST had a statistically significant but small effect on depression (g = -0.31,95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.40;-0.22) and anxiety (g = -0.32,95%CI = -0.41;-0.24) symptoms. Effects on depression symptoms were significantly larger for interventions delivered face-to-face (p = .003), led by a psychologist (p = .02) and targeted to patients with psychological distress (p = .002). Significantly larger reductions in anxiety symptoms were found in younger patients (pinteraction < 0.025), with the largest reductions in patients <50 years (β = -0.31,95%CI = -0.44;-0.18) and no significant effects in patients ≥70 years. Effects of CST on depression (β = -0.16,95%CI = -0.25;-0.07) and anxiety (β = -0.24,95%CI = -0.33;-0.14) symptoms were significant in patients who received chemotherapy but not in patients who did not (pinteraction < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS CST significantly reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety in cancer patients, and particularly when delivered face-to-face, provided by a psychologist, targeted to patients with psychological distress, and given to patients who were younger and received chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- L M Buffart
- Department of Physiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Exercise Medicine Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia.
| | - M A C Schreurs
- Department of Medical Oncology, Family Cancer Clinic, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - H J G Abrahams
- Department of Medical Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - J Kalter
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - N K Aaronson
- Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - P B Jacobsen
- Division of Cancer Control and Population Science, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, Florida, USA.
| | - R U Newton
- Exercise Medicine Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia.
| | - K S Courneya
- Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
| | - J Armes
- School of Health Science, University of Surrey, Surrey, UK.
| | - C Arving
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - A M Braamse
- Department of Medical Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Y Brandberg
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - J Dekker
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - R J Ferguson
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | | | - B Glimelius
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - M M Goedendorp
- Department of Health Science, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Health Psychology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - K D Graves
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - S P Heiney
- College of Nursing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
| | - R Horne
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK.
| | - M S Hunter
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - B Johansson
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - L L Northouse
- University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - H S Oldenburg
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - J B Prins
- Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute of Health Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - J Savard
- School of Psychology, Université Laval and Laval University Cancer Research Center, Québec, QC, Canada.
| | - M van Beurden
- Department of Gynecology, Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - S W van den Berg
- Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute of Health Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - J Brug
- National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
| | - H Knoop
- Department of Medical Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - I M Verdonck-de Leeuw
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, the Netherlands.
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13
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The benefits of expressive writing among newly diagnosed mainland Chinese breast cancer patients. J Behav Med 2019; 43:468-478. [DOI: 10.1007/s10865-019-00127-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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14
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Lu Q, Gallagher MW, Loh A, Young L. Expressive Writing Intervention Improves Quality of Life Among Chinese-American Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Ann Behav Med 2019; 52:952-962. [PMID: 30346497 DOI: 10.1093/abm/kax067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Expressive writing interventions are shown to confer health benefits for Caucasian cancer survivors. However, few studies reported improved quality of life or studied ethnic minorities. Purpose The study evaluated whether a culturally sensitive expressive writing intervention improved quality of life. Methods Chinese-speaking breast cancer survivors (n = 136) in the USA were randomly assigned to one of three conditions to write three 30-min weekly essays: a cancer-fact condition to write about facts relevant to the cancer experience for three weeks; a self-regulation condition to write about deepest feelings at week 1, stress and coping at week 2, and finding benefits at week 3; or an enhanced self-regulation condition to write about stress and coping at week 1, deepest feelings at week 2, and finding benefits at week 3. Quality of life was assessed by Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy at baseline, 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups. Results Growth curve models showed that quality of life was increased in the sample from baseline to the 6-month follow-up. The enhanced self-regulation condition had a large and statistically significant effect (d = 0.90, 95% CI [0.02, 1.687]), and the self-regulation condition had a small effect (d = 0.22, 95% CI [-0.79, 1.07]) on quality of life improvement compared with the cancer-fact group. Conclusion Expressive writing is shown to be an effective intervention to improve quality of life for Chinese-American cancer survivors. Future efforts are warranted to disseminate and implement this low-dose and brief intervention in community and clinical settings. Clinical Trial Registration NCT02946619.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Lu
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Matthew W Gallagher
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA.,Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation and Statistics, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alice Loh
- Herald Cancer Association, San Gabriel, CA, USA
| | - Lucy Young
- Herald Cancer Association, San Gabriel, CA, USA
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15
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Pereira L, Sampson J, DiCola K. Factors Related to Linguistic Content in Video Narrative of Adolescents with Cancer and Healthy Controls. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLINGUISTIC RESEARCH 2019; 48:1185-1201. [PMID: 31222472 DOI: 10.1007/s10936-019-09652-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A long history exists of the utilization of narratives to help young people cope with stress and illness. Research is beginning to focus on video based story-telling for the purpose of intervention, however little research has been conducted to look at factors that influence the narrative content of these films. As a pilot, and within the context of a larger study, the current research was conducted with n = 10 adolescents with cancer and n = 10 healthy peers exploring participant characteristics (e.g. personality, quality of life, etc.) and their relationship with linguistic consent of the film. Despite little to no differences identified in demographic characteristics, results identified distinct differences between each group, suggesting that linguistic aspects of film narratives differ in adolescents with and without cancer. This research can serve to motivate future directions of exploration surrounding the content of film narratives and their relationship to patient well-being.
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16
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McInnerney D, Kupeli N, Stone P, Anantapong K, Chan J, Candy B. Emotional disclosure as a therapeutic intervention in palliative care: a scoping review protocol. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e031046. [PMID: 31455716 PMCID: PMC6720334 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-031046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Revised: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Emotional disclosure (ED) is a term used to describe the therapeutic expression of emotion. ED underlies a variety of therapies aimed at improving well-being for various populations, including people with palliative-stage disease and their family carers. Systematic reviews of ED-based psychotherapy have largely focused on expressive writing as a way of generating ED. However, heterogeneity in intervention format and outcome measures has made it difficult to analyse efficacy. There is also debate about the mechanisms proposed to explain the potential effects of ED.We present a scoping review protocol to develop a taxonomy of ED-based interventions to identify and categorise the spectrum of interventions that could be classified under the umbrella term of 'emotional disclosure' in the palliative care setting. By mapping these to associated treatment objectives, outcome measures and explanatory frameworks, the review will inform future efforts to design and evaluate ED-based therapies in this population. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The review will be guided by Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage scoping review framework and Levac's extension. The following electronic databases will be searched from database inception: CENTRAL, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science and MEDLINE. We will include peer-reviewed studies and reviews. We will also check grey literature, including clinical trial registers, conference proceedings and reference lists, as well as contacting researchers. Articles will be screened by at least two independent reviewers and data charted using an extraction form developed for this review. Results will be analysed thematically to create a taxonomy of interventions, outcome measures and theoretical frameworks. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This review does not require ethical approval as it is a secondary analysis of pre-existing, published data. The results will inform future research in the development of ED-based interventions and evaluation of their efficacy in the palliative care setting. We will disseminate findings through peer-reviewed journals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisy McInnerney
- Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, University College London, London, UK
| | - Nuriye Kupeli
- Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, University College London, London, UK
| | - Patrick Stone
- Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, University College London, London, UK
| | - Kanthee Anantapong
- Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand
| | - Justin Chan
- Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, University College London, London, UK
| | - Bridget Candy
- Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, University College London, London, UK
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17
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Kupeli N, Chatzitheodorou G, Troop NA, McInnerney D, Stone P, Candy B. Expressive writing as a therapeutic intervention for people with advanced disease: a systematic review. BMC Palliat Care 2019; 18:65. [PMID: 31375118 PMCID: PMC6676535 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-019-0449-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Expressive writing involves writing about stressful or traumatic experiences. Despite trials in people with advanced disease, no systematic review to date has critiqued the evidence on expressive writing in this population. To synthesise the evidence of the effects of expressive writing on pain, sleep, depression and anxiety in people with advanced disease. Methods A systematic review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. CINAHL, CENTRAL, PsycINFO and PubMed were searched from January 1986 to March 2018. Other sources included clinical data registers and conference proceedings. Studies were included if they were randomised controlled trials that assessed the impact of an intervention involving expressive writing for adults with advanced disease and/or studies involving linguistic analysis on the expressive writing output. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool and the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation tool was used to assess the level of evidence for the outcomes of interest. The protocol of this systematic review has been registered on PROSPERO (CRD42017058193). Results Six eligible studies with a total of 288 participants were identified, including four randomised controlled trials. All of the trials were in cancer and recruited predominantly women. None of the interventions were tailored to the population. Studies had methodological shortcomings and evidence was generally of low quality. Combined analysis of the four trials, involving 214 participants in total, showed no clear difference in the effect of expressive writing on sleep, anxiety or depression compared to an active control. Pain was not evaluated in the trials. In contrast, analysis of the four studies that included linguistic analysis alluded to linguistic mechanisms for potential effects. Conclusion Although the trial results suggest there is no benefit in expressive writing for people with advanced disease, the current evidence is limited. There is a need for more rigorous trials. It would be of benefit first to undertake exploratory research in trial design including how best to measure impact and in tailoring of the intervention to address the specific needs of people with advanced disease. Trial registration The protocol of this systematic review has been registered on PROSPERO, which can be accessed here (registration number: CRD42017058193). Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12904-019-0449-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Kupeli
- Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, Division of Psychiatry, University College London, 6th Floor, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7NF, UK.
| | | | - N A Troop
- Department of Psychology and Sport Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire, UK
| | - D McInnerney
- Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, Division of Psychiatry, University College London, 6th Floor, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7NF, UK
| | - P Stone
- Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, Division of Psychiatry, University College London, 6th Floor, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7NF, UK
| | - B Candy
- Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, Division of Psychiatry, University College London, 6th Floor, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7NF, UK
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18
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Crawford J, Wilhelm K, Proudfoot J. Web-Based Benefit-Finding Writing for Adults with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes: Preliminary Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Diabetes 2019; 4:e13857. [PMID: 31250827 PMCID: PMC6620889 DOI: 10.2196/13857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The high prevalence of diabetes distress and subclinical depression in adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T1DM and T2DM, respectively) indicates the need for low-intensity self-help interventions that can be used in a stepped care approach to address some of their psychological needs. However, people with diabetes can be reluctant to engage in mental health care. Benefit-finding writing (BFW) is a brief intervention that involves writing about any positive thoughts and feelings concerning a stressful experience such as an illness, avoiding potential mental health stigma. It has been associated with increases in positive affect and positive growth and has demonstrated promising results in trials in other clinical populations. However, BFW has not been examined in people with diabetes. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a Web-based BFW intervention for reducing diabetes distress and increasing benefit finding in diabetic adults with T1DM or T2DM compared to a control writing condition. Methods Adults with T1DM or T2DM and diabetes distress were recruited online through the open access Writing for Health program. After completing baseline questionnaires, they were randomly allocated to receive online BFW or an active control condition of online writing about the use of time (CW). Both groups completed 15-minute online writing sessions, once per day, for 3 consecutive days. Online measures were administered at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months postintervention. Participants were also asked to rate their current mood immediately prior to and following each writing session. Results Seventy-two adults with T1DM or T2DM were recruited and randomly allocated to receive BFW (n=24) or CW (n=48). Participants adhered to the BFW regimen. Greater increases in positive affect immediately postwriting were found in the BFW group than in the CW group. However, there were no significant group-by-time interactions (indicating intervention effects) for benefit finding or diabetes distress at either the 1-month or 3-month follow-up. Both the BFW and CW groups demonstrated small, significant decreases in diabetes distress over time. Conclusions BFW was well tolerated by adults with diabetes in this study but did not demonstrate efficacy in improving diabetes distress or benefit finding compared to an active control writing condition. However, due to recruitment difficulties, the study was underpowered and the sample was skewed to individuals with minimal diabetes distress and none to minimal depression and anxiety at baseline. Future research should continue to investigate the efficacy of variants of therapeutic writing for adults with T1DM or T2DM, using larger samples of participants with elevated diabetes distress. Trial Registration Australiand New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12615000241538; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=368146
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Crawford
- Black Dog Institute, Sydney, Australia.,School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kay Wilhelm
- Black Dog Institute, Sydney, Australia.,School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,Consultation Liaison Psychiatry, St. Vincent's Health Australia, Sydney, Australia
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19
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Pavlacic JM, Buchanan EM, Maxwell NP, Hopke TG, Schulenberg SE. A Meta-Analysis of Expressive Writing on Posttraumatic Stress, Posttraumatic Growth, and Quality of Life. REVIEW OF GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1177/1089268019831645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Expressive writing is beneficial for promoting both positive psychological and physical health outcomes. Unfortunately, inhibiting emotions is related to impairments in psychological and physical health. James Pennebaker and others have used expressive writing as an experimental manipulation to gauge its efficacy in treating a wide variety of physical and psychological outcomes. While many studies have been conducted that examine the efficacy of expressive writing across such outcomes, a considerable amount of these studies tend to neglect necessary considerations, such as different levels of symptomatology, power, and meaningfulness of respective effect sizes. Six previous meta-analyses have been conducted that examine expressive writing’s effect on psychological outcomes. However, these studies focus on the experimental versus control group effect size. Thus, our meta-analysis sought to examine the efficacy of an expressive writing task on only the experimental conditions in studies measuring posttraumatic stress, posttraumatic growth, and quality of life using random effects models. Results indicated a small overall effect size for posttraumatic stress and negligible to small effect sizes for posttraumatic growth and quality of life. However, those studies requiring a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibited a medium to large effect size. Implications for future research design and interpretation of published research are discussed.
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20
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Giovanetti AK, Revord JUC, Sasso MP, Haeffel GJ. Self-Distancing May Be Harmful: Third-Person Writing Increases Levels of Depressive Symptoms Compared to Traditional Expressive Writing and No Writing. JOURNAL OF SOCIAL AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1521/jscp.2019.38.1.50] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: The positive effects of expressive writing on both mental and physical health are well documented. However, expressive writing may have the potential to activate negative schemas and facilitate rumination in those at high cognitive risk for depression (Yasinski, Hayes, & Laurenceau, 2016). The current research tested the hypothesis that writing using self-distancing would be more effective than traditional expressive writing in preventing depressive symptoms for those at high cognitive risk for depression. Method: Two studies using undergraduate samples (n = 104 and n = 80) were conducted to test our hypotheses. Both studies used a two-week daily writing experimental design. Results: Contrary to hypotheses, Study 1 found that individuals randomly assigned to a self-distancing writing condition reported greater levels of depressive symptoms than those assigned to a traditional expressive writing condition. The results of Study 2 replicated the results of Study 1. Participants randomly assigned to the self-distancing writing condition reported significantly greater levels of depressive symptoms than those in the expressive writing and no-writing control conditions. The effect of writing condition in Study 2 was driven by those with high levels of cognitive vulnerability. Discussion: Results suggest that writing using self-distancing should not be used for the prevention of depressive symptoms.
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21
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A critique of expressive writing experiment in the cancer population: Focus on construct validity. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-018-0042-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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22
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Lu Q, Dong L, Wu IHC, You J, Huang J, Hu Y. The impact of an expressive writing intervention on quality of life among Chinese breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Support Care Cancer 2018; 27:165-173. [PMID: 29915994 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-018-4308-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Expressive writing interventions are shown to confer physical and psychological benefits for Caucasian cancer survivors. This study evaluated the health benefits of an expressive writing intervention among breast cancer patients in mainland China. METHODS Stage I-III Chinese breast cancer survivors undergoing chemotherapy were recruited in Shanghai, China. They (n = 90) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: a positive thinking group (PTC) to write about the positive aspects of their cancer experience; a self-regulation condition (SRC) to write about their stress and coping efforts, deepest feelings, and positive aspects of their cancer experience; or a cancer-fact group (CFC) to write about facts relevant to their cancer experience. All groups wrote for 30 min every week for 4 weeks. Quality of life (QOL) was assessed using the FACT-B at baseline and 1- and 2-month follow-ups. Linear mixed effects models were used to test the hypotheses that the SRC and PTC would improve QOL compared to the CFC. RESULTS QOL improved overtime in the whole sample. Contrary to hypotheses, the CFC had increased QOL compared with the SRC from baseline to both the 1- and 2-month follow-ups (ΔQOL = 9.31, p = 0.01, d = 0.44; ΔQOL = 9.45, p = 0.025, d = 0.49). The PTC did not differ from cancer-fact writing but had increased QOL compared with the SRC from baseline to both the 1- and 2-month follow-ups (ΔQOL = 7.44, p = 0.04, d = 0.35; ΔQOL = 11.72, p = 0.06, d = 0.61). CONCLUSION Interventions through expressive writing about positive experience and cancer facts are feasible and can benefit Chinese cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Lu
- Department of Health Disparities Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA. .,Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Lu Dong
- School of Nursing, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ivan H C Wu
- Department of Health Disparities Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
| | - Jin You
- Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jialing Huang
- Breast Cancer Unit, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Hu
- School of Nursing, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Kalter J, Verdonck-de Leeuw IM, Sweegers MG, Aaronson NK, Jacobsen PB, Newton RU, Courneya KS, Aitken JF, Armes J, Arving C, Boersma LJ, Braamse AMJ, Brandberg Y, Chambers SK, Dekker J, Ell K, Ferguson RJ, Gielissen MFM, Glimelius B, Goedendorp MM, Graves KD, Heiney SP, Horne R, Hunter MS, Johansson B, Kimman ML, Knoop H, Meneses K, Northouse LL, Oldenburg HS, Prins JB, Savard J, van Beurden M, van den Berg SW, Brug J, Buffart LM. Effects and moderators of psychosocial interventions on quality of life, and emotional and social function in patients with cancer: An individual patient data meta-analysis of 22 RCTs. Psychooncology 2018; 27:1150-1161. [PMID: 29361206 PMCID: PMC5947559 DOI: 10.1002/pon.4648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Revised: 01/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Objective This individual patient data (IPD) meta‐analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of psychosocial interventions (PSI) on quality of life (QoL), emotional function (EF), and social function (SF) in patients with cancer, and to study moderator effects of demographic, clinical, personal, and intervention‐related characteristics. Methods Relevant studies were identified via literature searches in 4 databases. We pooled IPD from 22 (n = 4217) of 61 eligible randomized controlled trials. Linear mixed‐effect model analyses were used to study intervention effects on the post‐intervention values of QoL, EF, and SF (z‐scores), adjusting for baseline values, age, and cancer type. We studied moderator effects by testing interactions with the intervention for demographic, clinical, personal, and intervention‐related characteristics, and conducted subsequent stratified analyses for significant moderator variables.Results: PSI significantly improved QoL (β = 0.14,95%CI = 0.06;0.21), EF (β = 0.13,95%CI = 0.05;0.20), and SF (β = 0.10,95%CI = 0.03;0.18). Significant differences in effects of different types of PSI were found, with largest effects of psychotherapy. The effects of coping skills training were moderated by age, treatment type, and targeted interventions. Effects of psychotherapy on EF may be moderated by cancer type, but these analyses were based on 2 randomized controlled trials with small sample sizes of some cancer types. Conclusions PSI significantly improved QoL, EF, and SF, with small overall effects. However, the effects differed by several demographic, clinical, personal, and intervention‐related characteristics. Our study highlights the beneficial effects of coping skills training in patients treated with chemotherapy, the importance of targeted interventions, and the need of developing interventions tailored to the specific needs of elderly patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Kalter
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - I M Verdonck-de Leeuw
- Department of Clinical Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Amsterdam Public Health research institute and Cancer Center Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - M G Sweegers
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - N K Aaronson
- Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - P B Jacobsen
- Division of Cancer Control and Population Science, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, FL, USA
| | - R U Newton
- Exercise Medicine Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
| | - K S Courneya
- Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - J F Aitken
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, Australia.,Cancer Council Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.,Institute for Resilient Regions, University of Southern Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - J Armes
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - C Arving
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - L J Boersma
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Maastricht University Medical Center (MAASTRO clinic), Maastricht, The Netherlands.,GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - A M J Braamse
- Department of Medical Psychology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Y Brandberg
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - S K Chambers
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, Australia.,Cancer Council Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.,Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - J Dekker
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - K Ell
- Department of Adults and Healthy Aging, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - R J Ferguson
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - M F M Gielissen
- Department of Medical Psychology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - B Glimelius
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - M M Goedendorp
- Department of Health Psychology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - K D Graves
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - S P Heiney
- College of Nursing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - R Horne
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK
| | - M S Hunter
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - B Johansson
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - M L Kimman
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - H Knoop
- Department of Medical Psychology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - K Meneses
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Nursing, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - L L Northouse
- University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - H S Oldenburg
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - J B Prins
- Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - J Savard
- School of Psychology, Université Laval and Laval University Cancer Research Center, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - M van Beurden
- Department of Gynecology, Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - S W van den Berg
- Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - J Brug
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - L M Buffart
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Exercise Medicine Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia.,Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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LeRoy AS, Shields A, Chen MA, Brown RL, Fagundes CP. Improving Breast Cancer Survivors' Psychological Outcomes and Quality of Life: Alternatives to Traditional Psychotherapy. CURRENT BREAST CANCER REPORTS 2018; 10:28-34. [PMID: 32153724 DOI: 10.1007/s12609-018-0266-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of Review Breast cancer survivors (BCS) often experience psychological problems and lowered quality of life (QOL). While helpful, psychotherapy is often costly and inaccessible. This review aims to provide practitioners with the latest information on empirically tested interventions among BCS that may be used in lieu of, or in addition to, traditional psychotherapy. Recent Findings Recent developments in cancer-related psychological interventions include a focus on facilitating emotional disclosure (e.g., expressive writing), enhancing close relationships (e.g., couples-based interventions), and increasing feasibility and accessibility via online and computer-based intervention programs. These alternatives to psychotherapy offer a number of benefits including cost-effectiveness, personalized adaptability, and ease of implementation. Summary Utilizing these interventions as alternatives or supplements to traditional psychotherapy may offer BCS an opportunity to increase their QOL, improve psychosocial outcomes, and find meaning in their cancer experience. Choosing the appropriate intervention requires understanding the unique circumstances for each survivor and their family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angie S LeRoy
- Department of Psychology, The University of Houston, 3695 Cullen Blvd. Rm 126, Houston, TX 77204, USA
- Department of Psychology, Rice University, Bioscience Research Collaborative, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Allison Shields
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Michelle A Chen
- Department of Psychology, Rice University, Bioscience Research Collaborative, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ryan L Brown
- Department of Psychology, Rice University, Bioscience Research Collaborative, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Christopher P Fagundes
- Department of Psychology, Rice University, Bioscience Research Collaborative, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Symptom Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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25
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Oh PJ, Kim SH. The Effects of Expressive Writing Interventions for Patients With Cancer: A Meta-Analysis. Oncol Nurs Forum 2017; 43:468-79. [PMID: 27314189 DOI: 10.1188/16.onf.468-479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effects of expressive writing (EW) interventions in patients with cancer.
. DATA SOURCES Electronic databases searched included both international and Korean databases through January 2015.
. DATA SYNTHESIS Of the 20 trials that met the eligibility criteria of this review, a meta-analysis was conducted of 14 articles involving 13 randomized and 1 nonrandomized trials with 1,718 patients with cancer. EW interventions were compared with a neutral writing intervention or usual care (no writing). A significant small effect was noted on relieving cancer symptoms; however, the effects on psychological and cognitive outcomes were not significant. When subgroup analysis by control condition was performed, a significant effect on health-related quality of life was found between the EW intervention group and the usual care group.
. CONCLUSIONS EW had significant small effects only on cancer symptoms. The findings suggest that the traditional EW intervention protocol may need to be intensified to confirm its effect on patients with cancer.
. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Current evidence for EW as a nursing intervention for improving physical, psychological, and cognitive outcomes among patients with cancer is promising, but not conclusive.
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26
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Cheng KKF, Lim YTE, Koh ZM, Tam WWS. Home-based multidimensional survivorship programmes for breast cancer survivors. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2017; 8:CD011152. [PMID: 28836379 PMCID: PMC6483678 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd011152.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prognosis and survival rate of women with breast cancer have significantly improved worldwide. Effective home-based multidimensional programmes for breast cancer survivors have gained an ever greater emphasis in survivorship care to maximise women's quality of life for their successful transition to rehabilitation and normal life. It is important to summarise the best available evidence to evaluate the effects of home-based multidimensional survivorship programmes on quality of life in women within 10 years of the completion of surgery or adjuvant cancer therapy for breast cancer, or both. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of home-based, multidimensional survivorship (HBMS) programmes on maintaining or improving the quality of life in breast cancer survivors. SEARCH METHODS In April 2016 we searched the Cochrane Breast Cancer Specialised Register, CENTRAL, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL Plus, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and the World Health Organization's International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (WHO ICTRP) and ClinicalTrials.gov. We also screened reference lists of all identified studies and contacted study authors. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs assessing the effects of HBMS programmes in maintaining or improving quality of life in women with stages 0 to 3 breast cancer who completed primary cancer treatment (surgery or adjuvant cancer therapy, or both) up to 10 years earlier. We considered studies where the interventions included more than one of the following listed components: educational (such as information provision and self-management advice), physical (such as exercise training and resistance training) and psychological (such as counselling and cognitive therapies), to constitute a multidimensional programme. Interventions had to be allowed to be carried out at home. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two authors independently assessed eligible studies for inclusion, and performed quality assessment and extracted relevant data of the included studies. Quality of life was the primary outcome of the review. MAIN RESULTS We included 22 RCTs and four quasi-RCTs on 2272 participants. We categorised the intervention components into four groups: educational and psychological; educational and physical; physical and psychological; and educational, physical and psychological. Most of the studies used usual care (routine medical follow-up services) as the comparator. A few studies used a lower level or different type of intervention (e.g. stress management or exercise) or attention control as the comparator.We used the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT B), European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life C30 (EORTC C30), Quality of Life (QoL) Breast Cancer, and SF36 questionnaires to assess quality of life. HBMS programmes may increase breast cancer-specific quality of life and global quality of life immediately after the intervention, as measured by FACT-B and EORTC C30 (FACT-B: mean difference (MD) 4.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.33 to 6.78, 7 studies, 764 participants; EORTC: MD 4.38, 95% CI 0.11 to 8.64, 6 studies; 299 participants; moderate-quality evidence). There was no evidence of a difference in quality of life as measured by QoL-Breast Cancer or SF-36 (QoL-Breast Cancer: MD 0.42, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.85, 2 studies, 111 participants, very low-quality evidence; physical composite score SF36: MD 0.55, 95% CI -3.52 to 4.63, 2 studies, 308 participants, low-quality evidence).We observed a similar pattern at one to three months after the intervention: FACT-B (MD 6.10, 95% CI 2.48 to 9.72, 2 studies, 426 participants), EORTC-C30 (MD 6.32, 95% CI 0.61 to 12.04, 2 studies; 172 participants) and QoL-Breast Cancer (MD 0.45, 95% CI -0.19 to 1.09, 1 study, 61 participants). At four to six months and 12 months, there was no evidence of a difference in quality of life between groups (four to six months: EORTC - MD 0.08, 95% CI -7.28 to 7.44, 2 studies; 117 participants; SF-36 - MD -1.05, 95% CI -5.60 to 3.51, 2 studies, 308 participants; 12 months: EORTC - MD 2.04, 95% CI -9.91 to 13.99, 1 study; 57 participants).Functional status was incorporated into the quality of life subscale findings. HBMS programmes may decrease anxiety (MD of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) -1.01, 95% CI -1.94 to -0.08, 5 studies, 253 participants, low-quality evidence) compared to control immediately after the intervention but the effect did not persist at four to six months. There was no evidence of improvements in depression immediately after HBMS (MD of HADS -1.36, 95% CI -2.94 to 0.22, 4 studies, 213 participants, low-quality evidence) or at follow-up. HBMS programmes may also decrease fatigue (MD -1.11, 95% CI -1.78 to -0.45, 3 studies, 127 participants; low-quality evidence) and insomnia (MD -1.81, 95% CI -3.34 to -0.27, 3 studies, 185 participants, low-quality evidence).None of the included studies reported service needs and utilisation and cost of care, and therefore the effect of HBMS programmes on healthcare utilisation and cost is unknown. Due to the variations in assessment methods of adherence among the eight studies, we could not combine the results for meta-analysis. We synthesised the results narratively, with the reported adherence rates of 58% to 100%. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that HBMS programmes in breast cancer survivors appear to have a short-term beneficial effect of improving breast cancer-specific quality of life and global quality of life as measured by FACT-B and EORTC-C30, respectively. In addition, HBMS programmes are associated with a reduction in anxiety, fatigue and insomnia immediately after the intervention. We assessed the quality of evidence across studies as moderate for some outcomes, meaning that we are fairly confident about the results, while we assessed other outcomes as being low-quality, meaning that we are uncertain about the result.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karis Kin Fong Cheng
- National University of Singapore, National University Health SystemAlice Lee Centre for Nursing StudiesSingaporeSingapore
| | - Yee Ting Ethel Lim
- National University of Singapore, National University Health SystemAlice Lee Centre for Nursing StudiesSingaporeSingapore
| | - Zhi Min Koh
- National University of Singapore, National University Health SystemAlice Lee Centre for Nursing StudiesSingaporeSingapore
| | - Wilson Wai San Tam
- National University of Singapore, National University Health SystemAlice Lee Centre for Nursing StudiesSingaporeSingapore
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27
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Nyssen OP, Taylor SJC, Wong G, Steed E, Bourke L, Lord J, Ross CA, Hayman S, Field V, Higgins A, Greenhalgh T, Meads C. Does therapeutic writing help people with long-term conditions? Systematic review, realist synthesis and economic considerations. Health Technol Assess 2017; 20:vii-xxxvii, 1-367. [PMID: 27071807 DOI: 10.3310/hta20270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Writing therapy to improve physical or mental health can take many forms. The most researched model of therapeutic writing (TW) is unfacilitated, individual expressive writing (written emotional disclosure). Facilitated writing activities are less widely researched. DATA SOURCES Databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Linguistics and Language Behaviour Abstracts, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, were searched from inception to March 2013 (updated January 2015). REVIEW METHODS Four TW practitioners provided expert advice. Study procedures were conducted by one reviewer and checked by a second. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomised comparative studies were included. Quality was appraised using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Unfacilitated and facilitated TW studies were analysed separately under International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision chapter headings. Meta-analyses were performed where possible using RevMan version 5.2.6 (RevMan 2012, The Cochrane Collaboration, The Nordic Cochrane Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark). Costs were estimated from a UK NHS perspective and three cost-consequence case studies were prepared. Realist synthesis followed Realist and Meta-narrative Evidence Synthesis: Evolving Standards guidelines. OBJECTIVES To review the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of TW for people with long-term conditions (LTCs) compared with no writing, or other controls, reporting any relevant clinical outcomes. To conduct a realist synthesis to understand how TW might work, and for whom. RESULTS From 14,658 unique citations, 284 full-text papers were reviewed and 64 studies (59 RCTs) were included in the final effectiveness reviews. Five studies examined facilitated TW; these were extremely heterogeneous with unclear or high risk of bias but suggested that facilitated TW interventions may be beneficial in individual LTCs. Unfacilitated expressive writing was examined in 59 studies of variable or unreported quality. Overall, there was very little or no evidence of any benefit reported in the following conditions (number of studies): human immunodeficiency virus (six); breast cancer (eight); gynaecological and genitourinary cancers (five); mental health (five); asthma (four); psoriasis (three); and chronic pain (four). In inflammatory arthropathies (six) there was a reduction in disease severity [n = 191, standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.96 to -0.26] in the short term on meta-analysis of four studies. For all other LTCs there were either no data, or sparse data with no or inconsistent, evidence of benefit. Meta-analyses conducted across all of the LTCs provided no evidence that unfacilitated emotional writing had any effect on depression at short- (n = 1563, SMD -0.06, 95% CI -0.29 to 0.17, substantial heterogeneity) or long-term (n = 778, SMD -0.04 95% CI -0.18 to 0.10, little heterogeneity) follow-up, or on anxiety, physiological or biomarker-based outcomes. One study reported costs, no studies reported cost-effectiveness and 12 studies reported resource use; and meta-analysis suggested reduced medication use but no impact on health centre visits. Estimated costs of intervention were low, but there was insufficient evidence to judge cost-effectiveness. Realist synthesis findings suggested that facilitated TW is a complex intervention and group interaction contributes to the perception of benefit. It was unclear from the available data who might benefit most from facilitated TW. LIMITATION Difficulties with developing realist synthesis programme theory meant that mechanisms operating during TW remain obscure. CONCLUSIONS Overall, there is little evidence to support the therapeutic effectiveness or cost-effectiveness of unfacilitated expressive writing interventions in people with LTCs. Further research focused on facilitated TW in people with LTCs could be informative. STUDY REGISTRATION This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42012003343. FUNDING The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga P Nyssen
- Gastroenterology Unit, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Instituto de Investigación, Sanitaria Princesa (IP), and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Madrid, Spain
| | - Stephanie J C Taylor
- Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Geoff Wong
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Elizabeth Steed
- Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Liam Bourke
- Centre for Sport and Exercise Science, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK
| | - Joanne Lord
- Southampton Health Technology Assessment Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Carol A Ross
- Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Penrith, UK
| | - Sheila Hayman
- Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture, London, UK
| | - Victoria Field
- Freelance experienced therapeutic writing practitioner, International Federation for Biblio/Poetry Therapy, Steamboat Springs, CO, USA
| | - Ailish Higgins
- Health Economics Research Group, Brunel University, London, UK
| | - Trisha Greenhalgh
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Gripsrud BH, Brassil KJ, Summers B, Søiland H, Kronowitz S, Lode K. Capturing the Experience: Reflections of Women With Breast Cancer Engaged in an Expressive Writing Intervention. Cancer Nurs 2016; 39:E51-60. [PMID: 26390074 PMCID: PMC4798919 DOI: 10.1097/ncc.0000000000000300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Expressive writing has been shown to improve quality of life, fatigue, and posttraumatic stress among breast cancer patients across cultures. Understanding how and why the method may be beneficial to patients can increase awareness of the psychosocial impact of breast cancer and enhance interventional work within this population. Qualitative research on experiential aspects of interventions may inform the theoretical understanding and generate hypotheses for future studies. AIM The aim of the study was to explore and describe the experience and feasibility of expressive writing among women with breast cancer following mastectomy and immediate or delayed reconstructive surgery. METHODS Seven participants enrolled to undertake 4 episodes of expressive writing at home, with semistructured interviews conducted afterward and analyzed using experiential thematic analysis. RESULTS Three themes emerged through analysis: writing as process, writing as therapeutic, and writing as a means to help others. CONCLUSIONS Findings illuminate experiential variations in expressive writing and how storytelling encourages a release of cognitive and emotional strains, surrendering these to reside in the text. The method was said to process feelings and capture experiences tied to a new and overwhelming illness situation, as impressions became expressions through writing. Expressive writing, therefore, is a valuable tool for healthcare providers to introduce into the plan of care for patients with breast cancer and potentially other cancer patient groups. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE This study augments existing evidence to support the appropriateness of expressive writing as an intervention after a breast cancer diagnosis. Further studies should evaluate its feasibility at different time points in survivorship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgitta Haga Gripsrud
- Author Affiliations: Departments of Research (Drs Gripsrud and Lode) and Breast and Endocrine Surgery (Dr Søiland), Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger; and Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway (Dr Søiland); Division of Nursing (Drs Brassil and Summers); and Department of Plastic Surgery (Dr Kronowitz), The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
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Peckham JL, Block R, Buchanan M, Pommier S. Unspoken Ink: A Structured, Creative Writing Workshop for Adolescents and Young Adult Cancer Patients as a Psychosocial Intervention. J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol 2016; 6:50-52. [PMID: 27347842 DOI: 10.1089/jayao.2016.0001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Peckham
- 1 Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center , Rochester, New York
| | | | | | - SuEllen Pommier
- 4 Department of Surgical Oncology, Oregon Health & Science University , Portland, Oregon
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30
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Acupoint stimulation, massage therapy and expressive writing for breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Med 2016; 27:87-101. [PMID: 27515882 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2016.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Revised: 03/23/2016] [Accepted: 06/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Researches have accumulated using non-pharmacologic interventions including acupoint stimulation, massage therapy and expressive writing to manage breast cancer-related symptoms. Results from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) can get contradictory. OBJECTIVE A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to determine the effects on the quality of life, negative emotions and disease-related symptoms among women with breast cancer. METHODS Two independent researchers performed a structured search using data sources including MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, PubMed and PsychINFO from the beginning of time until the first week of January 2015. A total of 23 acupoint stimulation, massage therapy and expressive writing RCTs were included in the review. RESULTS The study showed that no single intervention could be put under the spotlight exhibiting an overall effective result on all measured outcomes; however, looking into each one in detail shows different results in specific outcomes. Among the three interventions, acupoint stimulation has a treatment effect for general pain (MD=-1.46, 95% CI=-2.38 to -0.53) and fatigue (MD=-2.22, 95% CI=-3.68 to -0.77), massage therapy has a treatment effect for anxiety (MD=-0.50, 95% CI=-0.77 to -0.24), and expressive writing has a treatment effect for quality of life (MD=7.18, 95% CI=0.38 to 13.98). The measurement other outcomes showed either ineffective or equivocal results. CONCLUSION Non-pharmacologic interventions including acupoint stimulation, massage therapy and expressive writing have an effect on a middle-age woman with breast cancer. However, because of limitations, the seemingly promising results should be interpreted with caution.
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Zhou C, Wu Y, An S, Li X. Effect of Expressive Writing Intervention on Health Outcomes in Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0131802. [PMID: 26151818 PMCID: PMC4494859 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2014] [Accepted: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have arrived at conflicting conclusions on expressive writing (EW) as an intervention for breast cancer (BC) patients, but there has been no meta-analysis of these studies to assess the effectiveness of EW in BC population. METHODS PubMed, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and CINAHL and the www.clinicaltrial.gov database on ongoing clinical trials were searched to identify all the RCTs investigating efficacy of EW on the physical and psychological health in BC patients. The risk of bias of the original studies was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. Our primary outcomes for physical and psychological health were respectively negative somatic symptoms and negative mood which were stratified by emotional, benefit-finding and multiple prompts in sub-group analyses. The data were analyzed using Review Manager 5.2 and Stata version 12.0 statistical software. RESULTS Of the 5,232 titles screened, we identified 11 RCTs with a total of 1,178 participants. The pooled results showed a significant effect of EW using either an emotional prompt or a benefit-finding prompt on reducing negative somatic symptoms in BC patients in the ≤3-month follow-up group [Mean Difference (MD), -13.03, 95% CI, -19.23 to -6.83, P<0.0001; MD, -9.18, 95% CI, -15.57 to -2.79, P = 0.005]. There was no significant effect of EW on physical health in the >3-month follow-up group. There were no significant differences regarding psychological health indexes between EW intervention and control groups at any of the follow-up time-points (P>0.05). CONCLUSION This systematic review and meta-analysis reveals that EW intervention may have a significantly positive impact on the physical health but not the psychological health in BC patients, but this benefit may not last long. However, further high-quality studies with more homogeneity are needed to confirm the current findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunlan Zhou
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Yanni Wu
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Shengli An
- Department of Bio-Statistics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Xiaojin Li
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
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The effects of expressive writing on lung function, quality of life, medication use, and symptoms in adults with asthma: a randomized controlled trial. Psychosom Med 2015; 77:429-37. [PMID: 25939030 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000000166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Asthma is a chronic condition affecting 300 million people worldwide. Management involves adherence to pharmacological treatments such as corticosteroids and β-agonists, but residual symptoms persist. As asthma symptoms are exacerbated by stress, one possible adjunct to pharmacological treatment is expressive writing (EW). EW involves the disclosure of traumatic experiences which is thought to facilitate cognitive and emotional processing, helping to reduce physiological stress associated with inhibiting emotions. A previous trial reported short-term improvements in lung function. This study aimed to assess whether EW can improve lung function, quality of life, symptoms, and medication use in patients with asthma. METHODS Adults (18-45 years) diagnosed as having asthma requiring regular inhaled corticosteroids were recruited from 28 general practices in South East England (n = 146). In this double-blind randomized controlled trial, participants were allocated either EW or nonemotional writing instructions and asked to write for 20 minutes for 3 consecutive days. Lung function (forced expired volume in 1 second [FEV1]% predicted), quality of life (Mark's Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire), asthma symptoms (Wasserfallen Symptom Score Questionnaire), and medication use (inhaled corticosteroids and β-agonist) were recorded at baseline, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS Hierarchical linear modeling indicated no significant main effects between time and condition on any outcomes. Post hoc analyses revealed that EW improved lung function by 14% for 12 months for participants with less than 80% FEV1% predicted at baseline (β = 0.93, p = .002) whereas no improvement was observed in the control condition (β = 0.10, p = .667). CONCLUSIONS EW seems to be beneficial for patients with moderate asthma (<80% FEV1% predicted). Future studies of EW require stratification of patients by asthma severity. TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN82986307.
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Zachariae R, O'Toole MS. The effect of expressive writing intervention on psychological and physical health outcomes in cancer patients--a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychooncology 2015; 24:1349-59. [PMID: 25871981 PMCID: PMC6680178 DOI: 10.1002/pon.3802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2014] [Revised: 02/20/2015] [Accepted: 02/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of expressive writing intervention (EWI) for improving psychological and physical health in cancer patients and survivors. METHODS We searched databases and existing reviews for randomized controlled studies published between 1986 and 2014 that evaluated the effects of EWI on psychological and physical health outcomes. We computed and combined effect sizes and examined the role of methodological characteristics. RESULTS From 223 unique citations, we identified 16 independent randomized controlled trials published from 1999 to 2014, examining the effect of EWI on a range of psychological and physical health outcomes. No statistically significant effects were found for any of the individual or combined psychological (Hedges's g: 0.04; 95% CI, -0.06 to 0.14; p = 0.42), physical (0.08; 95% CI, -0.05 to 0.20; p = 0.22), or quality-of-life outcomes (0.09; 95% CI, -0.05 to 0.24; p = 0.22). The results were unaffected by differences in study characteristics, for example, type of control condition, study setting, cancer type, and overall study quality ratings. Results from a subset of studies indicated a possible moderating effect of social constraints, suggesting that participants experiencing low levels of emotional support may be more likely to benefit from EWI. CONCLUSIONS Our results do not support the general effectiveness of EWI in cancer patients and survivors. However, given the practical and inexpensive intervention, it is possible that even small effects in subgroups of patients could be clinically relevant, and future studies are recommended to test the effects of potential moderators, including pre-intervention distress levels and context-dependent factors such as emotional support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Zachariae
- Unit for Psychooncology and Health Psychology, Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Mia S O'Toole
- Department of Psychology and Behavioural Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Namkoong K, McLaughlin B, Yoo W, Hull SJ, Shah DV, Kim SC, Moon TJ, Johnson CN, Hawkins RP, McTavish FM, Gustafson DH. The effects of expression: how providing emotional support online improves cancer patients' coping strategies. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 2014; 2013:169-74. [PMID: 24395987 DOI: 10.1093/jncimonographs/lgt033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emotional support has traditionally been conceived as something a breast cancer patient receives. However, this framework may obscure a more complex process, facilitated by the emerging social media environment, which includes the effects of composing and sending messages to others. Accordingly, this study explores the effects of expression and reception of emotional support messages in online groups and the importance of bonding as a mediator influencing the coping strategies of breast cancer patients. METHODS Data were collected as part of two National Cancer Institute-funded randomized clinical trials. Eligible subjects were within 2 months of diagnosis of primary breast cancer or recurrence. Expression and reception of emotionally supportive messages were tracked and coded for 237 breast cancer patients. Analysis resulted from merging 1) computer-aided content analysis of discussion posts, 2) action log analysis of system use, and 3) longitudinal survey data. RESULTS As expected, perceived bonding was positively related to all four coping strategies (active coping: β = 0.251, P = .000; positive reframing: β = 0.288, P = .000; planning: β = 0.213, P = .006; humor: β = 0.159, P = .009). More importantly, expression (γ = 0.138, P = .027), but not reception (γ = -0.018, P = .741), of emotional support increases perceived bonding, which in turn mediates the effects on patients' positive coping strategies. CONCLUSIONS There is increasing importance for scholars to distinguish the effects of expression from reception to understand the processes involved in producing psychosocial benefits. This study shows that emotional support is more than something cancer patients receive; it is part of an active, complex process that can be facilitated by social media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Namkoong
- Department of Community and Leadership Development, University of Kentucky, 504 Garrigus Building, Lexington, KY 40546-0215.
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Bryan JL, Lu Q. Vision for improvement: Expressive writing as an intervention for people with Stargardt's disease, a rare eye disease. J Health Psychol 2014; 21:709-19. [PMID: 24934432 DOI: 10.1177/1359105314536453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
This study implemented and evaluated the effectiveness of an expressive writing intervention among patients with Stargardt's disease, a rare disease due to macular degeneration. Participants were randomly assigned to either an expressive writing intervention or a neutral writing condition. Participants completed measures at three time points: baseline, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks post-intervention. Psychological health outcomes improved at the 3-week follow-up for the intervention condition compared to control. Self-reported physical health improved at the 6-week follow-up in the intervention condition compared to control. These results suggest that expressive writing may be an effective, practical, and low-cost intervention for those with Stargardt's disease.
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Merz EL, Fox RS, Malcarne VL. Expressive writing interventions in cancer patients: a systematic review. Health Psychol Rev 2014; 8:339-61. [DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2014.882007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Matsuda A, Yamaoka K, Tango T, Matsuda T, Nishimoto H. Effectiveness of psychoeducational support on quality of life in early-stage breast cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Qual Life Res 2014; 23:21-30. [PMID: 23881515 PMCID: PMC3929036 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-013-0460-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/11/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Most breast cancer patients receive psychosocial support interventions. However, the effectiveness of these interventions has not yet been clarified. Quality of life (QOL) was an important construct that should be considered when assessing these interventions. The purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of psychosocial and especially psychoeducational support interventions for early-stage breast cancer patients since the follow-up was bound up to 6 months after finishing the intervention. METHODS We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify randomized controlled trials with early-stage breast cancer patients receiving psychosocial (psychoeducational and other) support in which QOL was measured as a treatment outcome. We compared mean differences at less than 6 months post-intervention with a control group. The primary outcome was Global Health Status/QOL scale (Global QOL), and secondary outcomes were the subscales of QOL. RESULTS No significant effect was observed for Global QOL; however, individuals receiving psychosocial support scored higher on the Breast Cancer Symptoms subscale. For psychoeducational support in the psychosocial support, significant effect was observed on the Emotional subscale. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis strengthens the evidence of the effectiveness of psychosocial support in improving breast cancer symptoms and psychoeducational support in improving emotional well-being within 6 months post-intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayako Matsuda
- Surveillance Division, Center for Cancer Control and Information Services, National Cancer Center, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan,
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Yoo W, Namkoong K, Choi M, Shah DV, Tsang S, Hong Y, Aguilar M, Gustafson DH. Giving and Receiving Emotional Support Online: Communication Competence as a Moderator of Psychosocial Benefits for Women with Breast Cancer. COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR 2014; 30:13-22. [PMID: 24058261 DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2013.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
This study examines the moderating role of emotional communication competence in the relationship between computer-mediated social support (CMSS) group participation, specifically giving and receiving emotional support, and psychological health outcomes. Data were collected as part of randomized clinical trials for women diagnosed with breast cancer within the last 2 months. Expression and reception of emotional support was assessed by tracking and coding the 18,064 messages that 236 patients posted and read in CMSS groups. The final data used in the analysis was created by merging (a) computer-aided content analysis of discussion posts, (b) action log data analysis of system usage, and (c) baseline and six-month surveys collected to assess change. Results of this study demonstrate that emotional communication competence moderates the effects of expression and reception of emotional support on psychological quality of life and breast cancer-related concerns in both desired and undesired ways. Giving and receiving emotional support in CMSS groups has positive effects on emotional well-being for breast cancer patients with higher emotional communication, while the same exchanges have detrimental impacts on emotional well-being for those with lower emotional communication competence. The theoretical and practical implications for future research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woohyun Yoo
- School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 5115 Vilas Hall, 821 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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Fernandes AF, Cruz A, Moreira C, Santos MC, Silva T. Social Support Provided to Women Undergoing Breast Cancer Treatment: A Study Review. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.4236/abcr.2014.32007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Visible ink: A flexible and individually tailored writing intervention for cancer patients. Palliat Support Care 2013; 13:171-8. [PMID: 24138800 DOI: 10.1017/s1478951513000710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Subjective reports on the effectiveness of and satisfaction with writing interventions in medical populations have indicated that they can have a profound impact on patients. Further, past research on these programs has demonstrated that they can lead to a number of different positive outcomes depending on the personal characteristics of the participating patients and the type of writing with which they are tasked. For this reason, a flexible and individually tailored writing intervention may be particularly effective for patients, molding its approach to their desires and backgrounds. This paper examines Visible Ink, a writing program for cancer patients at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) that follows this model. METHODS At Visible Ink's First Fall Writing Festival in November 2012, an optional survey was provided to all program participants in attendance, capturing both quantitative and qualitative information on patient experiences in the program. Twenty-nine surveys were completed. RESULTS The program appears to have a variety of positive effects, including fostering personal growth and providing a positive distraction. Respondents reported that they write in a number of different genres on topics both related and not related to their illnesses, which supports the flexible model of the program. All respondents indicated that they would recommend the program to others, and satisfaction with the program's general approach (i.e., individualized work with a writing coach) was unanimous. A few areas for potential improvement were also identified, most of which involved expanding the services and events offered by the program. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS Despite the limitations of this survey (e.g., small sample size and low response rate), its results support the promise of the Visible Ink model and demonstrate participants' satisfaction with the program. Future research can more thoroughly examine Visible Ink's effectiveness, and additional resources could enable the program to expand.
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Lorenz TA, Pulverman CS, Meston CM. Sudden Gains During Patient-Directed Expressive Writing Treatment Predicts Depression Reduction in Women with History of Childhood Sexual Abuse: Results from a Randomized Clinical Trial. COGNITIVE THERAPY AND RESEARCH 2013; 37:690-696. [PMID: 25484475 PMCID: PMC4255975 DOI: 10.1007/s10608-012-9510-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Sudden gains are large reductions in symptoms measured in a single between-session interval and are positively associated with long-term treatment outcomes. To date, sudden gains have mostly been observed in therapist-directed psychotherapies. There are currently mixed findings surrounding the mechanisms underlying sudden gains, with some support for a cognitive mechanism and some support for therapist characteristics such as the therapeutic alliance. In this study of 77 female survivors of childhood sexual abuse, sudden gains in trauma symptoms were found in a randomized clinical trial of a patient-directed expressive writing intervention. Women in the active treatment condition (who wrote about their beliefs related to sexuality or trauma) exhibiting sudden gains in trauma symptoms showed larger improvements in depression than those in the control condition (who merely wrote about their daily needs). The extension of sudden gains from psychotherapy to a client-directed treatment refines our understanding of the mechanisms underlying these gains, and supports the hypothesis that cognitive change is a likely mechanism underlying sudden gains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tierney A. Lorenz
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, 108 East Dean Keaton Street, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Carey S. Pulverman
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, 108 East Dean Keaton Street, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Cindy M. Meston
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, 108 East Dean Keaton Street, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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Arden-Close E, Gidron Y, Bayne L, Moss-Morris R. Written emotional disclosure for women with ovarian cancer and their partners: randomised controlled trial. Psychooncology 2013; 22:2262-9. [DOI: 10.1002/pon.3280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2012] [Revised: 12/20/2012] [Accepted: 02/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emily Arden-Close
- Centre for Applications of Health Psychology; Academic Unit of Psychology, University of Southampton; Southampton UK
| | - Yori Gidron
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy; Vrije Universiteit Brussel; Brussels Belgium
| | - Louise Bayne
- Ovacome, The UK Ovarian Cancer Charity; London UK
| | - Rona Moss-Morris
- Psychology Department, Institute of Psychiatry; King's College London; London UK
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Jensen-Johansen MB, Christensen S, Valdimarsdottir H, Zakowski S, Jensen AB, Bovbjerg DH, Zachariae R. Effects of an expressive writing intervention on cancer-related distress in Danish breast cancer survivors - results from a nationwide randomized clinical trial. Psychooncology 2012; 22:1492-500. [DOI: 10.1002/pon.3193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2010] [Revised: 08/23/2012] [Accepted: 08/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. B. Jensen-Johansen
- Unit for Psychooncology and Health Psychology, Department of Oncology; Aarhus University Hospital; Aarhus Denmark
- Department of Psychology; Aarhus University; Aarhus Denmark
| | - S. Christensen
- Unit for Psychooncology and Health Psychology, Department of Oncology; Aarhus University Hospital; Aarhus Denmark
- Department of Psychology; Aarhus University; Aarhus Denmark
| | - H. Valdimarsdottir
- Reykjavik University; Reykjavik Iceland
- University of Iceland; Reykjavik Iceland
- Mount Sinai School of Medicine; New York NY USA
| | - S. Zakowski
- Department of Clinical Psychology; Argosy University; Chicago IL USA
| | - A. B. Jensen
- Department of Oncology; Aarhus University Hospital; Aarhus Denmark
| | - D. H. Bovbjerg
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute; Pittsburgh PA USA
| | - R. Zachariae
- Unit for Psychooncology and Health Psychology, Department of Oncology; Aarhus University Hospital; Aarhus Denmark
- Department of Psychology; Aarhus University; Aarhus Denmark
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Langer SL, Kelly TH, Storer BE, Hall SP, Lucas HG, Syrjala KL. Expressive talking among caregivers of hematopoietic stem cell transplant survivors: acceptability and concurrent subjective, objective, and physiologic indicators of emotion. J Psychosoc Oncol 2012; 30:294-315. [PMID: 22571245 DOI: 10.1080/07347332.2012.664255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
This study sought to examine the effects of an expressive talking intervention for 58 caregiving partners of hematopoietic stem cell transplant survivors, persons known to experience distress. Caregivers were randomly assigned to a three-session emotional expression (EE) or control condition. Subjective, objective, and physiologic indicators of emotion were assessed. Relative to controls, EE participants experienced more negative emotion, uttered more negative emotion words, and perceived the exercises as more helpful and meaningful. The trajectory of skin conductance and the use of cognitive mechanism words increased across EE sessions, suggesting sustained emotional engagement. Future research is warranted to determine the optimal dose and timing of EE for this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelby L Langer
- School of Social Work, University of Washington, UW Box 354900, 4101 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.
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Carmack CL, Basen-Engquist K, Yuan Y, Greisinger A, Rodriguez-Bigas M, Wolff RA, Barker T, Baum G, Pennebaker JW. Feasibility of an expressive-disclosure group intervention for post-treatment colorectal cancer patients: results of the Healthy Expressions study. Cancer 2011; 117:4993-5002. [PMID: 21480203 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.26110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2010] [Revised: 12/14/2010] [Accepted: 01/24/2011] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adjusting to cancer requires effective cognitive and emotional processing. Written and verbal disclosure facilitate processing and have been studied independently in cancer survivors. Combined written and verbal expression may be more effective than either alone, particularly for patients with difficult to discuss or embarrassing side effects. Thus, the authors developed and tested the efficacy of a 12-session combined written and verbal expression group program for psychologically distressed colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. METHODS Forty post-treatment patients with CRC (stages I-III) identified as psychologically distressed using the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) were randomized to an intervention group (Healthy Expressions; n = 25) or standard care (control group; n = 15). Assessments were completed at baseline, Month 2, and Month 4 (postintervention). Primary outcomes were psychological functioning and quality of life (QOL). RESULTS Most participants were women (63%), white (63%), and non-Hispanic (75%). The Healthy Expressions group demonstrated significantly greater changes in distress compared with the control group at Month 2 on the BSI Global Severity Index (GSI) and the Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D) scores (P < .05 for each); differences in the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) global QOL scores approached significance (P = .063). The BSI GSI and Positive Symptom Total, CES-D, and EORTC emotional functioning subscale scores were all significant at Month 4 (P < .05 for each). CONCLUSIONS The Healthy Expressions program improved psychological functioning in CRC patients who reported experiencing distress. Findings demonstrate the program's feasibility and provide strong support for conducting a larger randomized trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy L Carmack
- Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77230-1439, USA.
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Wen KY, McTavish F, Kreps G, Wise M, Gustafson D. From Diagnosis to Death: A Case Study of Coping With Breast Cancer as Seen Through Online Discussion Group Messages. JOURNAL OF COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION : JCMC 2011; 16:331-361. [PMID: 23055657 PMCID: PMC3466054 DOI: 10.1111/j.1083-6101.2011.01542.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
To understand the underlying psychosocial reactions against the unfolding of medical events that announce the disease progression, the objective of this analysis was to identify the patterns of online discussion group message themes in relation to the medical timeline of one woman's breast cancer trajectory. 202 messages posted by Darlene (our studied case) were analyzed by 2 independent coders using a grounded theory approach. The findings suggest that the pattern of messages was clearly correlated with distress-inducing events. The most frequent interaction theme was about building friendship with peers through communication of encouragement, validation, appreciation, and life sharing. Narratives of medical progression were constantly updated to identify similarities with peers. Family issues were increasingly raised at the end of life.
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