title: Diary writing as a means to increased self-evaluation.
abstract: The completion of a structured diary task is considered as a means of increasing self-evaluation. Seventeen drug dependence inpatients completed 5 weeks of the diary. Change was assessed using a self-rating of self-evaluation skill and the Rotter Locus of Control Scale. Pre-post changes on both indices indicated significantly increased internalization/self-evaluation. Clinically, the diary procedure has been helpful in gathering baseline information, encouraging self-evaluation habits, facilitating rapport, providing material useful in understanding cognitive style, and validating therapy progress. Clinicians are cautiously encouraged to use the diary procedure with substance dependence patients although design confounding variables limit the extent of the endorsement.
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D012647:Self-Assessment; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D014956:Writing