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

Launched by TONI SALIKKA · Jun 30, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This study is exploring whether therapeutic writing can help adult women who live with long-lasting (chronic) pain and mild mental health challenges like anxiety or depression. The researchers want to understand if writing about emotions and personal meaning can ease both physical pain and emotional distress. Participants will take part in guided writing exercises that focus on expressing and managing feelings, followed by individual interviews to talk about their experiences. The goal is to learn how writing might support healing and improve well-being without relying on medications.

Women who are 18 years or older, have had chronic, widespread pain for at least two years (such as fibromyalgia), and have mild mental health conditions may be eligible. To join, participants must not have severe psychiatric disorders or be taking certain medications that affect thinking and memory. The study involves about 11 in-person visits over three months, with writing sessions and interviews. This trial aims to offer new, non-drug ways to help women manage both chronic pain and emotional health.

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 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)
• • Not currently using medications that may impair cognitive functioning (e.g., benzodiazepines, anticholinergics, opioids, antipsychotics)
• • Able to attend approximately 11 in-person visits over a 3-month period
• • Willing and able to participate in a structured therapeutic writing intervention
• • Purposefully selected to reflect a range of lived experiences relevant to the study's aims
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 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
• • Individuals not assigned female at birth or who do not identify as women