Enhanced wound healing after emotional disclosure intervention

Objectives. Psychological stress is believed to impair wound healing via a down‐regulation of the immune system. Since previous research suggests that disclosure of tra‐umatic experiences can result in an up‐regulation of immune function, the present study aimed to investigate the impact of a disclo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of health psychology 2008-02, Vol.13 (1), p.95-102
Main Authors: Weinman, John, Ebrecht, Marcel, Scott, Suzanne, Walburn, Jessica, Dyson, Mary
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Affect
Biopsy
Disclosure
Emotional distress
Follow-Up Studies
Healing
Health Behavior
Humans
Immune system
Intervention
Lesions
Loneliness
Male
Optimism
Patients
Prospective Studies
Psychological distress
Questionnaires
Self Concept
Self Disclosure
Social Support
Stress, Psychological - psychology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Time management
Traumatic life events
Wound Healing
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Summary:Objectives. Psychological stress is believed to impair wound healing via a down‐regulation of the immune system. Since previous research suggests that disclosure of tra‐umatic experiences can result in an up‐regulation of immune function, the present study aimed to investigate the impact of a disclosure intervention on the progress of wound healing. Design. The study used a prospective, longitudinal design with random assignment to the control (writing about time management) and experimental group (writing about a traumatic event). Methods. Participants (N = 36) completed questionnaires measuring perceived and emotional distress, loneliness, self‐esteem, social support, dispositional optimism, and health‐related behaviours. Accurate indication of the healing of a small punch biopsy wound was determined by using a high‐resolution ultrasound scanner. Results. Repeated measures ANOVA indicated that the disclosure intervention impacted wound healing. Participants who wrote about traumatic events had significantly smaller wounds 14 and 21 days after the biopsy compared with those who wrote about time management. Conclusions. It is concluded that a relatively brief and easy to administer intervention can have beneficial effects on wound healing. The potential for use in patient samples is indicated.
ISSN:1359-107X
2044-8287
DOI:10.1348/135910707X251207