de Moor, C., Sterner, J., Hall, M., Warneke, C., Gilani, Z., Amato, R., & Cohen, L. (2002). A pilot study of the effects of expressive writing on psychological and behavioral adjustment in patients enrolled in a phase II trial of vaccine therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Health Psychology, 21(6), 615–619.
An expressive writing intervention involved four writing sessions. Patients were randomized to an expressive writing (EW) group in which they were instructed to write their deepest thoughts and feelings about their cancer or to a neutral writing (NW) group in which they were instructed to write about a different health behavior at each session. Writing instructions were developed from the Pennebaker and Beall model. Repeated measures at baseline, end of intervention, and 4, 6, 8, and 10 weeks later.
It is implied that the setting is outpatient, in which patients are participating in a phase II clinical trial using vaccine therapy.
There was 86% and 81% adherence with each group. No differences in the POMS fatigue subscale were found; the POMS vigor subscale was significantly higher in the EW group.