the power

1
the power of words
the healing potential of writing, stories poems
2
key points

• the evidence base for expressive
  writing
• practical writing exercise
• how does expressive writing work implications
• reflection questions

3
expressive writing evidence base

• theres 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 198493473-6
• a careful literature search in the mid 90s
  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 199866174-84
• there have been several further research studies
  involving clinical populations since this
  meta-analysis

4
expressive writing meta-analysis
the Smythe meta-analysis came to several
interesting conclusions

• 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 wasnt 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

5
expressive writing evidence base

• Petrie KJ, Pennebaker JW et al Disclosure of
  trauma immune response J Consult Clin Psychol
  199563787-92
• 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 199716(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 19995(4)157-160.

6
expressive writing evidence base

• Smyth JM, Gould O, et al. The role of narrative
  in medicine a multi-theoretical perspective. Adv
  Mind-Body Med 200016186-93
• Klapow JC, Schmidt SM, et al. Symptom management
  in older primary care patients feasibility of an
  experimental, written self-disclosure protocol.
  Ann Intern Med 2001134(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 200219(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 200227(4)161-72.
• Smyth J, Helm R. Focused expressive writing as
  self-help for stress and trauma. J Clin Psychol
  200359(2)227-35.
• but please avoid
  missionary zeal!!