Effects of Narrative Writing Duration and Post-writing Processing Instructions on PTSD

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Registration Number: NCT01773811
• Lead Sponsor: University of Mississippi, Oxford

Brief Summary

The current study proposes to directly measure how processing after participating in written disclosure about a traumatic life event affects physical and psychological outcomes.

Detailed Description

Previous research has established the potential for narrative writing about traumatic events to result in positive benefits for physical and psychological health. Research has also provided evidence that written disclosure may reduce post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Several mechanisms of action have been proposed to explain why written disclosure produces positive benefits, but all have focused on processes occurring during the writing session. It has been suggested, however, that additional processing may occur after the writing exercises are over, yet no research has studied the influence of this processing on outcomes. The current study proposes to directly measure how processing after participating in written disclosure affects physical and psychological outcomes.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2012-02
• Study First Submitted: 2013-01-18
• Study First Submitted QC: 2013-01-18
• Study First Posted: 2013-01-23
• Status Verified: 2014-05
• Primary Completion: 2014-05
• Study Completion: 2014-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2014-05-14
• Last Update Posted: 2014-05-15

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 49

Inclusion Criteria

• Experienced a traumatic life event (DSM-IV-TR Criterion A)
• Currently experiencing clinically significant levels of PTSD symptoms

Exclusion Criteria

• Currently receiving psychotherapy
• On medication that is not stable (i.e. medication has been changed within the past 6 weeks)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Level of PTSD symptoms as measured by the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale	1 month after final writing session

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Physical health	1 month after final writing session	Physical health as measured by the Pennebaker Inventory of Limibic Languidness (PILL)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

The University of Mississippi; 🇺🇸 University, Mississippi, United States