Health TrialsbyHealthPanel

Therapeutic Writing for Adults Suffering From Chronic Pain and Comorbid Mental Health Disorders

ConditionsChronic PainMental Health DisorderPsychiatric &Amp;Amp;or Mood DisorderPsychiatric ComorbiditiesPsychiatric DiagnosisEmotional PainEmotional DistressEmotion RegulationEmotional ProcessingMeaning of LifeMeaning MadeMeaning of Life and Life SatisfactionDepressive DisorderAnxiety DisordersSleep DisorderComorbid DepressionProcess, Acceptance
Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexFemale
Age18+
SponsorToni Salikka

About this trial

The goal of this observational study is to understand the effects and experiences of therapeutic writing interventions in adult women with chronic pain and co-occurring mental health conditions. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Can therapeutic writing help relieve chronic pain and emotional distress?

How does writing support emotional processing, regulation, and meaning-making during rehabilitation?

Participants will take part in a two-part writing intervention involving:

Guided writing exercises that focus on emotional processing, emotion regulation, and creating meaning.

Individual interviews after the writing sessions to explore their experiences.

The study uses qualitative analysis methods-phenomenology and logotherapy-to better understand how these writing interventions may support recovery, improve well-being, and offer non-pharmacological tools for managing chronic pain and mental health challenges.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Adult women (18 years or older), assigned female at birth and self-identify as women

Diagnosed with or experience of chronic, widespread (non-cancer) pain lasting at least two years

Diagnosed with or living with one or more mild mental health disorders (e.g., anxiety, mild depression), without current or past severe psychiatric conditions

Diagnosed with or experience of nociplastic pain (e.g., fibromyalgia)

Disqualifiers

Presence of severe mental health disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression, or other psychotic conditions)

Use of medications known to impair memory, attention, or decision-making (e.g., benzodiazepines, anticholinergics, opioids, antipsychotics)

Participation in other concurrent treatments that may influence study outcomes

Cognitive limitations that would hinder meaningful engagement in the writing intervention

Trial design

Design model

Single group

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Therapeutic Writing Intervention in Pain Rehabilitation

    Other intervention

    The therapeutic writing intervention is designed to support emotional processing and regulation in individuals with chronic pain and comorbid mental health disorders. It has been developed specifically for use in a clinical rehabilitation setting and is delivered in two phases over a four-week period at the Pain Clinic of Satasairaala Hospital. Sessions are conducted in person, with clinical staff available to support participants. The intervention is non-pharmacological, low-risk, and integrated into the broader multidisciplinary care pathway.

Treatment groups

5 Participants
are divided into 1 treatment group
Group A: Therapeutic Writing Intervention in Pain RehabilitationExperimental treatment 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Health-Related Experiences of Participants

Description: Qualitative themes identified from semi-structured interviews exploring participants' perceived health-related changes following the writing intervention, including emotional processing, emotion regulation, and meaning-making. Unit of Measure: Thematic categories derived from qualitative content analysis. Time Frame: Data will be collected through semi-structured interviews conducted at three time points: prior to the writing intervention (baseline), immediately after the final writing session (Week 5), and three months after the intervention (Week 17).

Time frame
Baseline (prior to intervention), immediately post-intervention (Week 5), and 3 months post-intervention (Week 17)

Secondary outcomes

1

Perceived Impact on Emotion Regulation

Participant-reported changes in emotional awareness, expression, and regulation, identified through qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted immediately post-intervention. Original Unit of Measure: Thematic categories and frequency of emotion regulation-related content identified through qualitative content analysis. Time Frame: Data will be collected through semi-structured interviews conducted at three time points: prior to the writing intervention (baseline), immediately after the final writing session (Week 5), and three months after the intervention (Week 17).

Time frame
Baseline (prior to intervention), immediately post-intervention (Week 5), and 3 months post-intervention (Week 17)
2

Themes of Meaning-Making and Future Orientation Identified Through Qualitative Interview Analysis

Description: Themes related to personal meaning, future goals, and psychological growth will be assessed through qualitative content analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted at three time points: baseline, immediately post-intervention (Week 5), and 3 months post-intervention (Week 17). Unit of Measure: Thematic categories and depth of meaning-making and future orientation content identified through qualitative content analysis. Time Frame: Baseline (prior to intervention), immediately post-intervention (Week 5), and 3 months post-intervention (Week 17)

Time frame
Baseline (prior to intervention), immediately post-intervention (Week 5), and 3 months post-intervention (Week 17)

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

Toni Salikka

Lead sponsor

Tampere University

Sponsor institution

Source ClinicalTrials.gov

This trial is not recruiting at the moment. You can still explore other options: