Effectiveness of Expressive Writing in the Reduction of Psychological Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Marković, Maša Vukčević; Bjekić, Jovana; Priebe, Stefan

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.587282

Cited by 38 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Several expressive writing studies have been conducted during COVID-19 with the aim to improve response to stress [ 38 , 39 ]. The results of those expressive writing studies during the COVID-19 pandemic have been mixed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One study on expressive writing for health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic found that participants who received a writing intervention showed higher improvements in PTSD, depression, and global psychopathology symptoms than participants assigned to a neutral writing control group [ 40 ]. On the other hand, one randomized study reported increased stress with expressive writing compared to treatment as usual, suggesting that expressive writing may at times lead to less than favorable outcomes [ 38 ]. Our study may have had different results because our intervention differs from other intervention programs in several aspects, including the expressive writing approach, study duration, and outcomes assessments.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of an online expressive writing intervention for COVID-19 resilience

Bechard

Evans

Cho

et al. 2021

Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice

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Background & purpose The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted mental health in the general population. In this trial, our objective was to assess whether a 6-week expressive writing intervention improves resilience in a sample from the general population in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials & methods This 6-week trial was conducted online. Eligible participants (n=63) were a sample of adults who self-identified as having been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Primary outcome Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Secondary outcomes Perceived Stress Scale – 10-Item (PSS-10); Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale – Revised (CESD-R); Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Results Resilience measures (CD-RISC) increased from baseline (66.6 ± 14.9) to immediately post-intervention (73.0 ± 12.4; p=0.014; Cohen’s d =0.31), and at a 1- month follow-up (72.9 ± 13.6; p=0.024; Cohen’s d =0.28). Across the same timepoints, perceived stress scores (PSS-10) decreased from baseline (21.8 ± 6.6) to immediately post-intervention (18.3 ± 7.0; p=0.008; Cohen’s d =0.41), and at the 1- month follow-up to (16.8 ± 6.7; p=0.0002; Cohen’s d =0.56). Depression symptoms (CESD-R) decreased from baseline (23.3 ± 15.3) at 6 weeks (17.8 ± 15.4; p=0.058; Cohen’s d =0.22), and 10 weeks (15.5 ± 12.7; p=0.004; Cohen’s d =0.38). Posttraumatic growth (PTGI) increased from baseline (41.7 ± 23.4) at 6 weeks (55.8 ± 26.4; p=0.004; Cohen’s d =0.44), and at the 1-month follow-up (55.9 ± 29.3; p=0.008; Cohen’s d =0.49). Conclusion An online expressive writing intervention was effective at improving resilience in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. NCT# NCT04589104

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of an online expressive writing intervention for COVID-19 resilience

Bechard

Evans

Cho

et al. 2021

Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Additionally, measures that governments undertook all over the world to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have both short- and long-term negative impacts on mental health and well-being (Brooks et al, 2020 ). Finally, the negative social and economic consequences of these measures are expected to be additional risk factors for mental health which may persist for a long time after the pandemic is over (Vukčević Marković et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental Health in Affectionate, Antagonistic, and Ambivalent Relationships During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Latent Profile Analysis

Mehulić

Kamenov

2021

Front. Psychol.

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The ongoing coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic presents an acute stressor affecting mental health. In these stressful times, intimate relationships functioning could serve as a protective or a risk factor to the well-being of partners. Adult Croatian citizens engaged in intimate relationships (N = 727) reported their relationship characteristics and assessed symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress during the state lockdown in May 2020. Three relationship profiles based on variations in key relationship characteristics were identified using latent profile analysis. Profiles represented distinct relationship types described as affectionate, ambivalent, and antagonistic relationships. These relationship types differed in their levels of love and perception of humility, responsiveness, and behavior of the partner. Relationship type was associated with mental health symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic and state lockdown. Being in an affectionate relationship was associated with the lowest levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, while in an antagonistic relationship these are in the highest levels. Ambivalent relationships were characterized by moderate levels on all measured mental health indicators with no difference in anxiety compared with affectionate relationships. The results emphasized the link between relationship functioning and successful coping with mental health hazards such as the fear of disease or restrictive measures put in place to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The 6 trials 25-30 that tested standard interventions minimally adapted for mental health during COVID-19 were conducted in Oman (N = 46), 25 Malaysia (N = 61), 26 Spain (N = 164), 27 Iran (N = 150), 28 Serbia (N = 104), 29 and China (N = 104). 30 Participants were recruited via social media, 26,29 an internet survey, 25 and a university email list; 27 in 2 trials, recruitment method was not reported. 28,30 Two trials tested standard cognitive behavioural therapy delivered individually (6 sessions) 25 or in groups (10 sessions) 28 ; both reported targeting mental health symptoms from COVID-19, but neither described COVID-19-specific intervention adaptations.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of COVID-19 Mental Health Interventions among Community-based Children, Adolescents, and Adults: A Living Systematic Review of Randomised Controlled Trials

Bonardi

Wang

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background: Scalable interventions to address COVID-19 mental health are needed. Our objective was to assess effects of mental health interventions for community-based children, adolescents, and adults. Methods: We searched 9 databases (2 Chinese-language) from December 31, 2019 to March 22, 2021. We included randomised controlled trials with non-hospitalised, non-quarantined participants of interventions to address COVID-19 mental health challenges. We synthesized results descriptively but did not pool quantitatively due to substantial heterogeneity of populations and interventions and concerns about risk of bias. Findings: We identified 9 eligible trials, including 3 well-conducted, well-reported trials that tested interventions designed specifically for COVID-19 mental health challenges, plus 6 trials of standard interventions (e.g., individual or group therapy, expressive writing, mindfulness recordings) minimally adapted for COVID-19, all with risk of bias concerns. Among the 3 COVID-19-specific intervention trials, one (N = 670) found that a self-guided, internet-based cognitive-behavioural intervention targeting dysfunctional COVID-19 worry significantly reduced COVID-19 anxiety (standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.74, 95% CI 0.58 to 0.90) and depression symptoms (SMD 0.38, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.55) in Swedish general population participants. A lay-delivered telephone intervention for homebound older adults in the United States (N = 240) and a peer-moderated education and support intervention for people with a rare autoimmune condition from 12 countries (N = 172) significantly improved anxiety (SMD 0.35, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.60; SMD 0.31, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.58) and depressive symptoms (SMD 0.31, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.56; SMD 0.31, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.55) 6-weeks post-intervention, but these were not significant immediately post-intervention. No trials in children or adolescents were identified. Interpretation: Internet-based programs for the general population and lay- or peer-delivered interventions for vulnerable groups may be effective, scalable options for public mental health in COVID-19. More well-conducted trials, including for children and adolescents, are needed.

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Effectiveness of Expressive Writing in the Reduction of Psychological Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Cited by 38 publications

References 42 publications

Feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of an online expressive writing intervention for COVID-19 resilience

Feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of an online expressive writing intervention for COVID-19 resilience

Mental Health in Affectionate, Antagonistic, and Ambivalent Relationships During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Latent Profile Analysis

Effects of COVID-19 Mental Health Interventions among Community-based Children, Adolescents, and Adults: A Living Systematic Review of Randomised Controlled Trials

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