An everyday activity as a treatment for depression: The benefits of expressive writing for people diagnosed with major depressive disorder

• Published in: Journal of affective disorders 2013-09, Vol.150 (3), p.1148-1151
• Main Authors: Krpan, Katherine M, Kross, Ethan, Berman, Marc G, Deldin, Patricia J, Askren, Mary K, Jonides, John
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Affective disorders; Art Therapy - methods; Biological and medical sciences; Cognitive tasks; Depression; Depressive Disorder, Major - therapy; Depressive personality disorders; Efficacy; Emotional experiences; Emotions; Expressive writing; Female; Human Activities - psychology; Humans; Intervention; Major depressive disorder; Male; Manipulation; Medical sciences; Mood disorders; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Surveys and Questionnaires; Thinking; Treatment Outcome; Writing; Written emotional disclosure
• ISSN: 0165-0327; 1573-2517
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2013.05.065

Abstract Background The benefits of expressive writing have been well documented among several populations, but particularly among those who report feelings of dysphoria. It is not known, however, if those diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) would also benefit from expressive writing. Methods Forty people diagnosed with current MDD by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV participated in the study. On day 1 of testing, participants completed a series of questionnaires and cognitive tasks. Participants were then randomly assigned to either an expressive writing condition in which they wrote for 20 min over three consecutive days about their deepest thoughts and feelings surrounding an emotional event ( n =20), or to a control condition ( n =20) in which they wrote about non-emotional daily events each day. On day 5 of testing, participants completed another series of questionnaires and cognitive measures. These measures were repeated again 4 weeks later. Results People diagnosed with MDD in the expressive writing condition showed significant decreases in depression scores (Beck Depression Inventory and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores) immediately after the experimental manipulation (Day 5). These benefits persisted at the 4-week follow-up. Limitations Self-selected sample. Conclusions This is the first study to demonstrate the efficacy of expressive writing among people formally diagnosed with current MDD. These data suggest that expressive writing may be a useful supplement to existing interventions for depression.