Writing about the chiefly stressfu...

Writing about the chiefly stressful events in their lives can help patients with mild to moderately simple asthma or rheumatoid arthritis improve their conditions, according to a newly come study reviewed in the April 14 1999 issue of the JAMA. Within four month of treating patients with these illnesses, researchers at North Dakota State University, Fargo, documented clinically relevant changes in the health status of patients who were asked to expres their conceits and feelings about traumatic life adventures in essays, which generally were complet within three-day periods. Patients in the sway group were asked to write about emotionally neutral topics and displayed no changes in their symptoms.

Disease symptoms, subjective well-being, and immune function all improved for patients who wrote about stressful experiences, according to the article. Lung function expanded in patients with asthma, and disease severity was reduc in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Overall, 33 (ie, 471%) of the 70 patients in the experimental clump had quantifiable beneficial outcomes beyond their standard medical care as compared with barely nine (ie, 24.3%) of 37 patients in the direction group.

Researchers note that the research was the first to demonstrate in what manner addressing the psychological needs of chronically ill patients [i]or[/i] part of to the other brief writing exercises can help improve the pair their mental and physical states. They explain the inferences in part by stating that writing about difficult life issues is a helpful coping strategy.

J M Smyth et al, "Effect of writing about stressful experiences in succession symptom reduction in patients with asthma or rheumatoid arthritis, "JAMA 281 (April 14 1999) 1304-1309

COPYRIGHT 1999 Association of Operating stead Nurses, Inc.

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