Does writing about suicidal thoughts and feelings reduce them?

Full Abstract

To assess whether writing with cognitive change or exposure instructions reduces depression or suicidality, 121 undergraduates screened for suicidality wrote for 20 minutes on 4 days over 2 weeks. They were randomly assigned to reinterpret or to write and rewrite traumatic events/emotions, or to write about innocuous topics. The three groups (N = 98) who completed pre-, post-, and 6-week follow-up were not different on suicidality or depression. All subjects reported fewer automatic negative thoughts over the 2 weeks; they also reported higher self-regard but more health center visits at follow-up. Suicidal thoughts may be more resistant than physical health to writing interventions.

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Author information

Author/s: Kovac, Stacey H (SH); Range, Lillian M (LM);

Affiliation: The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5025, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Suicide & life-threatening behavior (Suicide Life Threat Behav), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-; vol 32 (issue 4) : pp 428-40

Dates: Created 2002/12/27; Completed 2003/05/22; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12501967, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adaptation, Psychological
Adolescent
Adult
Depressive Disorder - psychology; therapy
Emotions
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans

Humans
Life Change Events
Male
Motivation
Personality Inventory
Suicide - prevention & control; psychology
Thinking
Writing

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