The effect of expressive writing intervention on psychological and physical health outcomes in cancer patients--a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Zachariae R, O'Toole MS

Psycho-oncology · November 1, 2015

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of expressive writing intervention (EWI) for improving psychological and physical health in cancer patients and survivors. Results: We identified 16 independent randomized controlled trials published from 1999 to 2014. No statistically significant effects were found for any of the individual or combined psychological (Hedges's g: 0.04; 95% CI, -0.06 to 0.14; p = 0.42), physical (0.08; 95% CI, -0.05 to 0.20; p = 0.22), or quality-of-life outcomes (0.09; 95% CI, -0.05 to 0.24; p = 0.22). Conclusions: Our results do not support the general effectiveness of EWI in cancer patients and survivors.

PMID: 25871981 · DOI: 10.1002/pon.3802