Effect of Group Led Creative Writing on Mood in Cancer Patients

Cancer Patients Clinical Trial

Official title: Effect of Group Led Creative Writing on Mood in Cancer Patients

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

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.

Clinical Trial 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. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Cancer Patients

• NCT number: NCT03536702
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: March 28, 2018
• Completion date: November 16, 2018