Objective: To examine the effects of an expressive writing intervention (EWI) on cancer-related distress, depressive symptoms, and mood in women treated for early stage breast cancer.Methods: A nationwide sample of 507 Danish women who had recently completed treatment for primary breast cancer were randomly assigned to three 20-min home-based writing exercises, one week apart, focusing on either emotional disclosure (EWI group) or a non-emotional topic (control group). Cancer-related distress [Impact of Event Scale (IES)], depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-Short Form), and negative (37-item Profile of Moods State) and positive mood (Passive Positive Mood Scale) were assessed at baseline and at 3 and 9 months post-intervention. Choice of writing topic (cancer versus other), alexithymia (20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale), and social constraints (Social Constraints Scale) were included as possible moderators.Results: Significant (p < 0.01) group differences in mood change from before to immediately after each session suggested successful manipulation. Reductions over time in psychological symptoms were seen in both groups (p < 0.05), but no time  group interactions were found. Choice of writing topic moderated effects on IES, with women writing about other themes showing greater reductions in cancer-related avoidance than women writing about their cancer. Fewer depressive symptoms and higher levels of positive mood were seen 3 months post-intervention in women writing about their cancer when compared with the control group. Difficulties describing feelings and externally oriented thinking (20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale) moderated effects on positive mood and IES-total, while no moderating effects were found of social constraints.Conclusions: In concordance with the majority of previous results with cancer patients, no main effects of EWI were found for cancer-related distress, depressive symptoms, and mood. Moderator analyses suggested that choice of writing topic and ability to process emotional experiences should be studied further.

Our preliminary results suggest EWI to be a feasible, cost-effective, and efficient method for alleviating infertility-related stress, although results should be considered preliminary and further testing with a larger sample is warranted.

The objective was to examine the effect of Expressive Writing Intervention (EWI) on self-reported physical symptoms and healthcare utilization in a nationwide randomized controlled trial with Danish women treated for primary breast cancer, and to explore participant characteristics related to emotion regulation as possible moderators of the effect. Women who had recently completed treatment for primary breast cancer (n = 507) were randomly assigned to three 20 min. home-based writing exercises, one week apart, focusing on emotional disclosure (EWI) of a distressing experience (their cancer or a non-cancer topic) or a non-disclosing topic (control). Outcomes were self-reported physical symptoms and healthcare utilization (visits and telephone contacts with GP) 3 and 9 months post-intervention. Potential moderators were repressive coping, alexithymia, rumination, social constraints, and writing topic. Results revealed no group by time interaction effects for any outcomes. Moderation analyses showed that 1) low alexithymic women in the EWI group showed larger decreases in GP telephone calls over time than both high alexithymic women and controls and 2) women in the EWI group writing about their own cancer, but not women writing about other topics, showed a larger decrease than controls. The results from this large randomized trial are concordant with previous findings showing that EWI is unlikely to be a generally applicable intervention to improve health-related outcomes in cancer patients and cancer survivors. However, written disclosure might have a beneficial impact for individuals who write about their own cancer, as well as for those low in alexithymia.

The aim of the study was to provide insights into the transitional experience of women newly diagnosed with breast cancer progressing to their primary treatment. The psychosocial impact of patients in the recovery phase after breast cancer treatment has been investigated in recent years, however, little is known about the transition experience and psychosocial needs of Danish breast cancer patients during the phase of transition from diagnosis to treatment. This study employed a qualitative descriptive design with data collection including 12 semi-structured interviews with women undergoing radiation-or chemotherapy treatment.  The transcribed interviews were analysed which identified five main themes; 1) Uncertainty, 2) Sense of powerlessness, 3) Sustaining normality, 4) Worrying about the future, 5) Fortunate only having radiotherapy. Understanding care needs of women in transition, from diagnosis to treatment, and how it impacts on their lives, is essential to enable health professionals to tailor individualized care. Early support is critical to ensure that women understand step-by-step what is involved in the treatment and care and thereby to assist them towards a positive psychosocial trajectory.

No abstract

No abstract

This study investigates the supportive needs of women diagnosed with breast cancer in the early treatment phase. The aim of this study was to identify unmet supportive care needs in the early treatment phase of women treated for breast cancer. This study employed a quantitative longitudinal design with baseline questionnaire (Time 1) and a six-month follow-up questionnaire (Time 2) that explored a variety of characteristics using both standardized scales and more explorative questions about employment situation, needs, rehabilitation, psychological, physical and social experiences. Eighty-five percent of the invited potential women agreed to participate, and 100 participants completed the baseline questionnaire. The analysis identified results concerning employment situation, depressive symptoms, unmet needs, distress, sexual life, social constraints and cancer-related quality of life. The study concludes that health professionals must embrace the challenges faced by the women and provide strategies to support women achieving meaningful lives.