the healing potential of writing, stories &

poems

key points

the evidence base for expressive writing

practical writing exercise how does expressive

writing work; implications reflection & questions

expressive writing: evidence base

there’s a considerable amount of research out there – for example I have about 50 articles on writing & health in my own database

the research goes back at least 20 years, e.g: Pennebaker JW, & O'Heeron RC. Confiding in others and illness rate among spouses … J Abnorm Psychol 1984;93:473-6

a careful literature search in the mid ’90’s found 13 research studies that could be included in a meta-analysis: Smyth JM. Written emotional expression: effect sizes, outcome types … J Consult Clin Psychol 1998;66:174-84

there have been several further research studies involving clinical populations since this meta-analysis

expressive writing: meta-analysis

the expressive writing intervention produced significant improvements in 4 health areas – reported physical health, psychological wellbeing, physiological functioning, and general functioning – but not health behaviours

writing produced immediate (pre- to post-writing) increases in distress, which wasn’t related to health outcomes

effect sizes produced by writing were similar to those produced by other psychological, behavioural, or educational health interventions

most of the studies involved healthy, student populations

the Smythe meta-analysis came to several interesting conclusions:

expressive writing: evidence base

Petrie KJ, Pennebaker JW et al Disclosure of trauma & immune response J Consult Clin Psychol 1995;63:787-92

Spera SP et al Expressive writing and coping with job loss Academy of Management J 1994; 37(2): 722-733

Kelley JE, Lumley MA, et al Health effects of emotional disclosure in rheumatoid arthritis patients Health Psychology 1997;16(4):331-40.

Smyth JM et al Effects of writing about stressful experiences on … asthma or rheumatoid arthritis JAMA 1999; 281(14): 1304-9

Hannay D, & Bolton G. Therapeutic writing in primary care: a feasibility study Prim Care Psych 1999;5(4):157-160.

expressive writing: evidence base

Smyth JM, Gould O, et al. The role of narrative in medicine: a multi-theoretical perspective. Adv Mind-Body Med 2000;16:186-93

Klapow JC, Schmidt SM, et al. Symptom management in older primary care patients: feasibility of an experimental, written self-disclosure protocol. Ann Intern Med 2001;134(9 Pt 2):905-11.

Gidron Y, Duncan E, et al. Effects of guided written disclosure of stressful experiences on clinic visits and symptoms in frequent clinic attenders. Fam Pract 2002;19(2):161-6.

Hockemeyer J, & Smyth J. Evaluating the feasibility and efficacy of a self-administered manual-based stress management intervention for individuals with asthma: results from a controlled study. Behav Med 2002;27(4):161-72.

Smyth J, & Helm R. Focused expressive writing as self-help for stress and trauma. J Clin Psychol 2003;59(2):227-35.

… but please avoid missionary zeal!! …