Therapeutic Writing for Adults Suffering From Chronic Pain and Comorbid Mental Health Disorders

NCT07058532 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: R25034
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 5
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this observational study is to understand the effects and experiences of therapeutic writing interventions in adult women with chronic pain and co-occurring mental health conditions. The main questions it aims to answer are: Can therapeutic writing help relieve chronic pain and emotional distress? How does writing support emotional processing, regulation, and meaning-making during rehabilitation? Participants will take part in a two-part writing intervention involving: Guided writing exercises that focus on emotional processing, emotion regulation, and creating meaning. Individual interviews after the writing sessions to explore their experiences. The study uses qualitative analysis methods-phenomenology and logotherapy-to better understand how these writing interventions may support recovery, improve well-being, and offer non-pharmacological tools for managing chronic pain and mental health challenges.

Conditions

Chronic Pain; Mental Health Disorder; Psychiatric &Amp;Amp;or Mood Disorder; Psychiatric Comorbidities; Psychiatric Diagnosis; Emotional Pain; Emotional Distress; Emotion Regulation; Emotional Processing; Meaning of Life; Meaning Made; Meaning of Life and Life Satisfaction; Depressive Disorder; Anxiety Disorders; Sleep Disorder; Comorbid Depression; Process, Acceptance

Keywords

Therapeutic writing; Chronic pain; Mental health disorders; Psychiatric disorders; Emotion regulation; Emotional processing; Meaning-making; Non-pharmacological intervention; Logotherapy; Phenomenological analysis; Psychosocial rehabilitation; Pain management; Pain coping; Creative writing

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Health-Related Experiences of Participants

  Description: Qualitative themes identified from semi-structured interviews exploring participants' perceived health-related changes following the writing intervention, including emotional processing, emotion regulation, and meaning-making. Unit of Measure: Thematic categories derived from qualitative content analysis. Time Frame: Data will be collected through semi-structured interviews conducted at three time points: prior to the writing intervention (baseline), immediately after the final writing session (Week 5), and three months after the intervention (Week 17).

  Baseline (prior to intervention), immediately post-intervention (Week 5), and 3 months post-intervention (Week 17)

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Perceived Impact on Emotion Regulation

  Baseline (prior to intervention), immediately post-intervention (Week 5), and 3 months post-intervention (Week 17)

• Themes of Meaning-Making and Future Orientation Identified Through Qualitative Interview Analysis

  Baseline (prior to intervention), immediately post-intervention (Week 5), and 3 months post-intervention (Week 17)

Study Arms (1)

Therapeutic Writing Intervention in Pain Rehabilitation

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this single-arm study will take part in a structured therapeutic writing intervention as part of a multidisciplinary pain rehabilitation program at the Pain Clinic of Satasairaala Hospital. The study spans approximately three months and includes around 11 clinic visits. The intervention is delivered in two phases: first, four consecutive daily writing sessions (20 minutes each), followed by four weekly sessions (30-60 minutes each). Prior to the intervention, participants are assessed for eligibility by the clinic's multidisciplinary team and interviewed by the principal investigator. Post-intervention, participants are interviewed twice to explore their health-related experiences with the writing process.

Other: Therapeutic Writing Intervention in Pain Rehabilitation

Interventions

Therapeutic Writing Intervention in Pain Rehabilitation OTHER

The therapeutic writing intervention is designed to support emotional processing and regulation in individuals with chronic pain and comorbid mental health disorders. It has been developed specifically for use in a clinical rehabilitation setting and is delivered in two phases over a four-week period at the Pain Clinic of Satasairaala Hospital. Sessions are conducted in person, with clinical staff available to support participants. The intervention is non-pharmacological, low-risk, and integrated into the broader multidisciplinary care pathway.

Therapeutic Writing Intervention in Pain Rehabilitation

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Gender Eligibility Details: Only individuals who self-identify as women and were assigned female at birth are eligible to participate.
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Adult women (18 years or older), assigned female at birth and self-identify as women
• Diagnosed with or experience of chronic, widespread (non-cancer) pain lasting at least two years
• Diagnosed with or living with one or more mild mental health disorders (e.g., anxiety, mild depression), without current or past severe psychiatric conditions
• Diagnosed with or experience of nociplastic pain (e.g., fibromyalgia)
• Not currently using medications that may impair cognitive functioning (e.g., benzodiazepines, anticholinergics, opioids, antipsychotics)
• Able to attend approximately 11 in-person visits over a 3-month period
• Willing and able to participate in a structured therapeutic writing intervention
• Purposefully selected to reflect a range of lived experiences relevant to the study's aims

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of severe mental health disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression, or other psychotic conditions)
• Use of medications known to impair memory, attention, or decision-making (e.g., benzodiazepines, anticholinergics, opioids, antipsychotics)
• Participation in other concurrent treatments that may influence study outcomes
• Cognitive limitations that would hinder meaningful engagement in the writing intervention
• Individuals not assigned female at birth or who do not identify as women

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Toni Salikka: lead

Study Sites (1)

Satasairaala Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: Pain Clinic

Pori, Satakunta, 28500, Finland

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Chronic Pain; Mental Disorders; Emotional Regulation; Personal Satisfaction; Depressive Disorder; Anxiety Disorders; Sleep Wake Disorders; Behavior; Agnosia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Self-Control; Social Behavior; Mood Disorders; Nervous System Diseases; Perceptual Disorders; Neurobehavioral Manifestations

Central Study Contacts

Toni Salikka, MA, PhD Candidate

CONTACT

+358453046569; toni.salikka@tuni.fi

University Lecturer, PhD

CONTACT

+358401901623; sari.frojd@tuni.fi

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: MA, PhD Candidate

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 23, 2025
• First Posted: July 10, 2025
• Study Start: August 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: April 1, 2026
• Study Completion: April 1, 2026
• Last Updated: July 10, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

FI (1)