Cognitive-behavioural emotion writing tasks: a controlled trial of multiple processes.

Adam J Guastella, Mark R Dadds

Journal: Journal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry 2009;39(4):558-66

PMID: 18346712

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

We report on a controlled trial of three structured writing paradigms that engage the writer with cognitive-behavioural emotion-processes: exposure, devaluation, and benefit-finding. University students (N=198) wrote once a week for three weeks about their most upsetting experience. The long-term effects of these structured writing procedures were compared to an unstructured emotion writing condition and control. Outcomes indicated that exposure writing sped the reduction of intrusive and avoidant symptoms, while benefit-finding writing increased reports of positive growth. Results suggest the use of these paradigms to study emotion-processing mechanisms and, potentially, in practice to enhance coping in process-specific ways.

Address: University of New South Wales, School of Psychology, Sydney 2052 NSW, Australia. [email protected]

DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2007.11.008

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MeSH Terms: Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Control Groups, Desensitization, Psychologic, Emotions, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Life Change Events, Male, Models, Psychological, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Stress, Psychological, Students, Task Performance and Analysis, Writing