The Impact of Expressive Emotional Writing on Facilitating Grief Resolution in Adults With Spinal Cord Injury
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: expressive writing.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Spinal Cord Injuries, Transverse Myelitis. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- United States
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
The aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic benefits of a 10-week online coach-guided EEWP on psychosocial health among adults with SCI.
Detailed description
Paralysis in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to grief from the loss of physical capacity, social or occupational role function, and life goals. Expressive emotional writing (EEW) provides an outlet for these individuals to explore and express feelings and emotions that arise from their losses related to limb paralysis. Using a randomized controlled trial design, the proposed project will attempt to confirm the benefits of an online coach-guided EEW program for improving psychosocial health among adults with SCI. Benefits of participating in the program will be evaluated using validated assessments to measure reduction of grief intensity and improvement in other psychosocial dimensions and social participation.
Interventions
- Behavioral expressive writing
A typical session will begin with the teaching artist (i.e., writing coach) introducing a new writing theme. Participants will have at least 20 minutes to write, and each session will include post-writing reflections and sharing, an undirected supportive interaction among participants.
Primary outcome measures
- Grief and Loss Scale [Time frame: baseline, 11 weeks, 3-month follow-up]
- Impact of Events Scale [Time frame: baseline, 11 weeks, 3-month follow-up]
- Emotional Distress - Depression [Time frame: baseline, 11 weeks, 3-month follow-up]
- Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) [Time frame: baseline, 11 weeks, 3-month follow-up]
- Sleep Disturbance [Time frame: baseline, 11 weeks, 3-month follow-up]
- Sleep Impact [Time frame: baseline, 11 weeks, 3-month follow-up]
- Meaning and Purpose [Time frame: baseline, 11 weeks, 3-month follow-up]
- Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Conditions - Managing Emotions [Time frame: baseline, 11 weeks, 3-month follow-up]
- Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities [Time frame: baseline, 11 weeks, 3-month follow-up]
- Satisfaction with Social Roles and Activities [Time frame: baseline, 11 weeks, 3-month follow-up]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: (1) diagnosis (with evidence) of SCI (traumatic or non-traumatic) with limb weakness; (2) aged > 18 years; (3) access to the internet and a computer or to a smartphone that can perform videoconferencing, (4) sufficient English language and cognitive proficiency to complete self-report study questionnaires and understand program content in English, and able to communicate verbally or through writing.
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Exclusion Criteria: (1) severe cognitive impairments that prevent online learning and completion of the evaluation; (2) suicidal intent requiring emergency care; (3) consistent psychotherapy within the last 6 months; (4) current or planned participation in psychological therapy or a clinical trial during the study period that could affect the outcomes of the study; or (5) congenital SCI (e.g., spinal bifida)
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Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
United States · 1 center
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06147258 · 1925594-38 · 1925594-38