Expressive Writing and Adjustment to Metastatic Breast Cancer

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center1 site in 1 country98 target enrollmentFebruary 2008

ConditionsMetastatic Breast Cancer

Overview

Phase: Not Applicable
Intervention: Not specified
Conditions: Metastatic Breast Cancer
Sponsor: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Enrollment: 98
Locations: 1
Primary Endpoint: Determine the potential utility of expressive writing for enhancing existential well-being (i.e., increasing a sense of meaning and peace and reducing demoralization) among women with metastatic breast cancer.
Status: Completed
Last Updated: 10 years ago

Overview Investigators Eligibility Criteria Outcomes Sites Similar Trials

Overview

Brief Summary

We are doing this study to see if writing about life experiences helps women adjust to breast cancer that has spread. We will compare two groups. One group will write about their breast cancer experience. The other will write about their daily activities. What we learn from this study may help us to find new ways to help women cope with breast cancer that has spread.

Registry

clinicaltrials.gov

Start Date

February 2008

End Date

January 2012

Last Updated

10 years ago

Study Type

Observational

Sex

Female

Investigators

Sponsor

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Responsible Party

Sponsor

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

•Women with Stage IV breast cancer
•Receiving cancer care at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
•At least 18 years of age
•Can speak, read, and write in English
•In the judgment of consenting professionals able to provide informed consent
•Score of 4 or higher on the distress thermometer (established cutoff score for probable distress; see Jacobsen et al., 2005)

Exclusion Criteria

•Significant psychiatric or cognitive impairment (dementia/delirium, retardation, psychosis) that in the judgment of the investigators will preclude providing informed consent and participating in the intervention
•Currently engaging in expressive writing (e.g., journal writing that involves expressing one's feelings) on a daily basis
•Currently participating in intervention trials with similar endpoints • Male

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Determine the potential utility of expressive writing for enhancing existential well-being (i.e., increasing a sense of meaning and peace and reducing demoralization) among women with metastatic breast cancer.

Time Frame: conclusion of the study

Secondary Outcomes

Determine the potential utility of expressive writing for reducing distress (i.e., depressive symptoms, anxiety, cancer-specific and general distress) among women with metastatic breast cancer.(conclusion of the study)