Expressive Writing Reduces Symptoms of Chronic Illness

AORN Journal, July, 1999

Writing about the most stressful events in their lives can help patients with mild to moderately severe asthma or rheumatoid arthritis improve their conditions, according to a recent study reviewed in the April 14, 1999, issue of the JAMA. Within four months of treating patients with these illnesses, researchers at North Dakota State University, Fargo, documented clinically relevant changes in the health status of patients who were asked to express their thoughts and feelings about traumatic life events in essays, which generally were completed within three-day periods. Patients in the control group were asked to write about emotionally neutral topics and displayed no changes in their symptoms.

Disease symptoms, subjective well-being, and immune function all improved for patients who wrote about stressful experiences, according to the article. Lung function expanded in patients with asthma, and disease severity was reduced in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Overall, 33 (ie, 47.1%) of the 70 patients in the experimental group had quantifiable beneficial outcomes beyond their standard medical care as compared with only nine (ie, 24.3%) of 37 patients in the control group.

Researchers note that the study was the first to demonstrate how addressing the psychological needs of chronically ill patients through brief writing exercises can help improve both their mental and physical states. They explain the results in part by stating that writing about difficult life events is a helpful coping strategy.

J M Smyth et al, "Effects of writing about stressful experiences on symptom reduction in patients with asthma or rheumatoid arthritis, "JAMA 281 (April 14, 1999) 1304-1309.