Expressive Writing and Adjustment to Metastatic Breast Cancer

NCT00624156 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 08-011
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 98
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

We are doing this study to see if writing about life experiences helps women adjust to breast cancer that has spread. We will compare two groups. One group will write about their breast cancer experience. The other will write about their daily activities. What we learn from this study may help us to find new ways to help women cope with breast cancer that has spread.

Conditions

Metastatic Breast Cancer

Keywords

Breast Cancer

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Determine the potential utility of expressive writing for enhancing existential well-being (i.e., increasing a sense of meaning and peace and reducing demoralization) among women with metastatic breast cancer.

  conclusion of the study

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Determine the potential utility of expressive writing for reducing distress (i.e., depressive symptoms, anxiety, cancer-specific and general distress) among women with metastatic breast cancer.

  conclusion of the study

Study Arms (2)

1

emotional disclosure writing intervention

Behavioral: Writing Intervention

2

control writing

Behavioral: Writing Intervention

Interventions

Writing Intervention BEHAVIORAL

Participants in the emotional disclosure condition will be instructed to write continuously for 20 minutes about their deepest thoughts and feelings regarding their cancer experience.

Also known as: Over four sessions, I want you to write about your experience with cancer. In your writing, I, want you to really let go and explore your very deepest emotions and thoughts. It is critical that you, delve deeply.

1

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

MSKCC clinics

You may qualify if:

• Women with Stage IV breast cancer
• Receiving cancer care at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
• At least 18 years of age
• Can speak, read, and write in English
• In the judgment of consenting professionals able to provide informed consent
• Score of 4 or higher on the distress thermometer (established cutoff score for probable distress; see Jacobsen et al., 2005)

You may not qualify if:

• Significant psychiatric or cognitive impairment (dementia/delirium, retardation, psychosis) that in the judgment of the investigators will preclude providing informed consent and participating in the intervention
• Currently engaging in expressive writing (e.g., journal writing that involves expressing one's feelings) on a daily basis
• Currently participating in intervention trials with similar endpoints • Male

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: lead
• National Cancer Institute (NCI): collaborator
• Indiana University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

New York, New York, 10065, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Mosher CE, Duhamel KN, Lam J, Dickler M, Li Y, Massie MJ, Norton L. Randomised trial of expressive writing for distressed metastatic breast cancer patients. Psychol Health. 2012;27(1):88-100. doi: 10.1080/08870446.2010.551212. Epub 2011 Jul 8.

  PMID: 21678181 DERIVED

Related Links

• Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Breast Neoplasms

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Breast Diseases; Skin Diseases; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

Study Officials

• Katherine DuHamel, PhD

  Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 15, 2008
• First Posted: February 26, 2008
• Study Start: February 1, 2008
• Primary Completion: January 1, 2012
• Study Completion: January 1, 2012
• Last Updated: October 30, 2015

Record last verified: 2015-10

Locations

US (1)