Emotional Expression and Psychological Adjustment to Prostate Cancer: A Brief Intervention for Patients and Their Partners
Abstract
The current study examines the effects of a psychological intervention that encourages emotional expression in prostate cancer patients and their partners. Prostate cancer patients (n=130) and their partners are randomly assigned to an intervention or a control group. Following Pennebaker's model, subjects in the intervention group are asked to write about their deepest thoughts and feelings regarding their cancer experience for 20 minutes each day for three consecutive days. The control group is asked to write about trivial non-emotional topics. Outcome variables including psychological distress, quality of life, and physical symptoms is assessed at baseline and over a period of nine months after the intervention (one week, three, six, and nine months). In accordance with our approved Statement of Work data collection is currently underway. To date 15 subjects have completed all follow-up assessments and 36 subjects have been enrolled and are at various stages of the data collection process. Data processing has begun, including data entry and verification, which has been completed for all subjects currently enrolled in the project.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA392313
Entities
People
- Sandra G. Zakowski
Organizations
- Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science