Effects of written anger expression in chronic pain patients: making meaning from pain.
Based on prior research demonstrating benefits of emotional disclosure for chronically ill individuals and evidence that anger is particularly problematic in chronic pain sufferers, outpatients from a chronic pain center (N=102) were randomly assigned to express their anger constructively or to write about their goals non-emotionally in a letter-writing format on two occasions. Letters were coded for degree of expressed anger and meaning-making (speculation and insight into conditions that precipitated anger). Over a 9 week period, participants in the anger-expression group (n=51) experienced greater improvement in control over pain and depressed mood, and marginally greater improvement in pain severity than the control group (n=51). Degree of expressed anger uniquely accounted for intervention effects and meaning-making mediated effects on depressed mood. These findings suggest that expressing anger may be helpful for chronic pain sufferers, particularly if it leads to meaning-making.
Graham
Jennifer E
JE
Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, 315 East Health & Human Development Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA. jeg32@psu.edu
Lobel
Marci
M
Glass
Peter
P
Lokshina
Irina
I
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000786:Anger; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D018710:Pain Clinics; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012803:Sick Role; D014956:Writing