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Impact of therapeutic writing on quality of life and psychological distress in patients with vitiligo

Phase 2
Conditions
Vitiligo.
Vitiligo
Registration Number
IRCT138801161788N1
Lead Sponsor
Iran University of Medical Sciences
Brief Summary

Background: <br /> In this clinical trial, we examined whether or not expressive writing as a psychological <br /> intervention reduces psychological distress in vitiligo patients receiving phototherapy. <br /> Methods: <br /> A total of 139 adult vitiligo patients were asked to complete the GHQ-28 in order <br /> to identify their psychiatric disturbances. The GHQ-28 scores showed that 78 patients (56.5%) <br /> had psychiatric distress. They were later enrolled in this randomized controlled trial conducted <br /> during June 2009 until Dec. 2009 at Razi Hospital in Tehran. Patients were randomly divided <br /> into 2 groups. Group A underwent the routine treatment protocol. Group B did the same, but they <br /> were also instructed to practice ‘expressive writing’. The intervention continued 4 weeks. After 4 <br /> weeks, patients in both groups were re-evaluated using the GHQ-28.<br /> Results: <br /> The overall GHQ-28 scores and sub-scores were significantly reduced in both groups A <br /> (47.9+/-11.71, P=0.000) and B (48.94+/-10.69, P=0.000) after 4 weeks of intervention. However, <br /> no statistically significance difference was found between the two groups in terms of their overall <br /> scores (P=0.7) and their sub-scores.<br /> Conclusion: <br /> The effect of expressive writing on reducing psychological distress in patients with <br /> vitiligo remains equivocal. Nonetheless, further studies with larger sample sizes and of longer <br /> duration especially in non-western cultural contexts are recommended

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
Complete
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
72
Inclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: Age>18 years, lasting more than 6 month after diagnosis, literacy at least primary school

Exclusion Criteria

psychosis, systemic and chronic illness, no consent to participate in study

Study & Design

Study Type
interventional
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Psychological distress and quality of life. Timepoint: 1 month. Method of measurement: Questionnare.
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
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