| Title: |
Randomized, Controlled Trial of Written Emotional Expression and Benefit Finding in Breast Cancer Patients |
| Authors: |
Stanton, Annette L.; Danoff-Burg, Sharon; Sworowski, Lisa A.; Collins, Charlotte A.; Branstetter, Ann D; Rodriguez-Hanley, Alicia; Kirk, Sarah; Austenfeld, Jennifer L. |
| Source: |
College of Health and Human Services |
| Publisher Information: |
BearWorks |
| Publication Year: |
2002 |
| Collection: |
Missouri State University: BearWorks |
| Description: |
PURPOSE: Expressing emotions and finding benefits regarding stressful experiences have been associated in correlational research with positive adjustment. A randomized trial was performed to compare effects of experimentally induced written emotional disclosure and benefit finding with a control condition on physical and psychological adjustment to breast cancer and to test whether outcomes varied as a function of participants’ cancer-related avoidance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Early-stage breast cancer patients completing medical treatment were assigned randomly to write over four sessions about (1) their deepest thoughts and feelings regarding breast cancer (EMO group; n = 21), (2) positive thoughts and feelings regarding their experience with breast cancer (POS group; n = 21), or (3) facts of their breast cancer experience (CTL group; n = 18). Psychological (eg, distress) and physical (perceived somatic symptoms and medical appointments for cancer-related morbidities) outcomes were assessed at 1- and 3-month follow-ups. RESULTS: A significant condition × cancer-related avoidance interaction emerged on psychological outcomes; EMO writing was relatively effective for women low in avoidance, and induced POS writing was more useful for women high in avoidance. Significant effects of experimental condition emerged on self-reported somatic symptoms (P = .0183) and medical appointments for cancer-related morbidities (P = .0069). Compared with CTL participants at 3 months, the EMO group reported significantly decreased physical symptoms, and EMO and POS participants had significantly fewer medical appointments for cancer-related morbidities. CONCLUSION: Experimentally induced emotional expression and benefit finding regarding early-stage breast cancer reduced medical visits for cancer-related morbidities. Effects on psychological outcomes varied as a function of cancer-related avoidance. |
| Document Type: |
text |
| Language: |
unknown |
| Relation: |
https://doi.org/10.1200/jco.2002.08.521 |
| DOI: |
10.1200/jco.2002.08.521 |
| Availability: |
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/articles-chhs/512; https://doi.org/10.1200/jco.2002.08.521 |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.1E974E82 |
| Database: |
BASE |