Effect of Group Led Creative Writing on Mood in Cancer Patients

Penn State Health

Status: Completed

Conditions: Cancer Patients

Treatments: Other: Creative Writing Workshop; Other: Independent Writing - Control Group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03536702

PSCI 18-005

Details and patient eligibility

About

The primary purpose of this study is to determine whether creative writing in newly diagnosed cancer patients and those with recent progression in their disease will have a positive impact on their mental health. Using a randomized controlled trial approach, emotion thermometers will be employed to evaluate participants' responses on a number of domains, such as anxiety, depression, despair, and anger along with a series of survey questions to monitor changes in depressive and anxiety symptoms. Open-ended survey questions will be used to capture how a creative writing intervention impacts participants' experience of their illness. Melissa Greene's Write from the Heart program focuses more on creative writing rather than cancer focused topics. Patients in the intervention arm will complete -one and a half hour group sessions every two weeks over the span of 3 months. Participants in the active control arm will be provided a book (i.e., Writing Down Bones by Natalie Goldberg) about creative writing and will be asked to do activities for 1.5 hrs every 2 weeks for a period of 3 months.

Full description

Mental wellness before and after intervention in both arms. A validated Emotional Thermometer Scales will be used to predict changes in parameters reflecting participants' mental health pre- and post-intervention. Survey questions focused on symptoms of depression and anxiety will be used to monitor for changes in mental wellness pre- and post-intervention.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Newly diagnosed with any stage or type of cancer within 3 months OR progression of disease within 3 months of enrollment. Recurrence of cancer within 3 months of enrollment would also be eligible as it will be considered as progression of cancer Ability to understand English language and ability to write without any functional difficulty ECOG performance status 0-3

Exclusion criteria

Inability to give informed consent Severe psychiatry illness (e.g., uncontrolled depression, schizophrenia or psychosis) Severe cognitive impairment Pregnant females Inability to write or understand English

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

Creative Writing Workshop

Experimental group

Description:

The intervention arm will receive a dedicated workshop for one and a half hours every 2 weeks for 3 months.

Treatment:

Other: Creative Writing Workshop

Independent Writing - Control Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

The control arm will receive a book (i.e., Writing Down Bones by Natalie Goldberg) on creative writing and asked to read and do writing activities for one and a half hours once every two weeks for 3 months.

Treatment:

Other: Independent Writing - Control Group