Taking Pen to Hand: Evaluating Theories Underlying the Written Disclosure Paradigm

2004-01-01articleClinical Psychology Science and Practice286 citationsclosed

No readable copy stored yet — this record is metadata only.

Mental Health via Writing Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments

Abstract

In recent years the written disclosure paradigm has beenrelated to improvements in physical healthin a numberofpopulations. However, it still remains unclear why thisparadigm is effective. In this paper the literature on thewritten disclosure paradigm is reviewed, and possibleexplanations for its beneﬁcial effects are explored. It isconcluded that, although the paradigm may producebeneﬁcial effects for some individuals, more attentionneeds to be directed toward understanding why it worksand for whom this approach might be best suited.Methodological considerations for future research arealso offered.Key words: written disclosure; underlying mecha-nisms, psychological health, physical health. [Clin PsycholSci Prac 11: 121–137, 2004]

Citations in this library

Stored only when both papers are in the corpus — 286 citations exist upstream.

References

1953The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud

1986Emotional processing of fear: Exposure to corrective information.

1998Antecedent- and response-focused emotion regulation: Divergent consequences for experience, expression, and physiology.

1996Experiential avoidance and behavioral disorders: A functional dimensional approach to diagnosis and treatment.

1992Shattered Assumptions: Towards a New Psychology of Trauma

2024Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

1997Writing About Emotional Experiences as a Therapeutic Process

1986Confronting a traumatic event: Toward an understanding of inhibition and disease.

Cited by

2004A Closer Examination of the Structured Written Disclosure Procedure.

2004Theories, Therapies, and Taxpayers: On the Complexities of the Expressive Writing Paradigm

2005Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among low-income, African American women with a history of intimate partner violence and suicidal behaviors: Self-esteem, social support, and religious coping

2005Further Examination of the Exposure Model Underlying the Efficacy of Written Emotional Disclosure.

2005Bringing theory to research on computer-mediated comforting communication

2005Written Emotional Expression Produces Health Benefits in Fibromyalgia Patients

2006Expressive disclosure and benefit finding among breast cancer patients: Mechanisms for positive health effects.

2005Avoidance and processing as predictors of symptom change and positive growth in an integrative therapy for depression