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The effects of structured writing assignments on overcoming major stressful events: an uncontrolled study
Author(s) -
Schoutrop Mirjam,
Lange Alfred,
Hanewald Gerrit,
Duurland Conny,
Bermond Bob
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
clinical psychology and psychotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.315
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1099-0879
pISSN - 1063-3995
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-0879(199709)4:3<179::aid-cpp123>3.0.co;2-c
Subject(s) - psychology , anxiety , depression (economics) , clinical psychology , intervention (counseling) , period (music) , cognition , developmental psychology , psychotherapist , psychiatry , physics , acoustics , economics , macroeconomics
In the present study the effectiveness of writing assignments in the treatment of individuals who have suffered traumatic or stressful life events is investigated. Thirty‐two undergraduates participated in the study. The treatment consisted of five writing sessions of 45 min duration that took place over a period of 2 weeks. Immediately following the intervention, subjects showed significant improvement in their ratings of depression, anxiety and fear. The positive effects of the treatment were still evident after a period of 8 weeks. Two possible explanations of the beneficial effects of writing assignments are discussed: self‐confrontation and cognitive reappraisal. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.