Effect of information provision on trauma symptoms following therapeutic writing

Bibliographic Data

ID11510310
AuthorsJustin Kenardy (0000-0001-9475-8450, School of Psychology University of Queensland, corresponding author), Julie A Piercy (School of Psychology University of Queensland)
Year2006
Volume41
Issue3
Pages205-212
Publication date2006-09-08
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAustralian Psychologist (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0005-0067 • E-ISSN: 1742-9544
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00050060600726304
OpenAlexW2065594315
LanguageEN
References cited25

Recent studies in the area of psychological debriefing (PD) have reported adverse effects. This study examined one possible explanation for such effects, that of sensitisation to the possibility of pathology. Subjects were 161 psychology students (female, n = 121; male, n = 40) who had experienced trauma but received no previous treatment. Subjects either received an explanation (explanation group) or received no explanation at all (no explanation group) about trauma reactions prior to undertaking a therapeutic writing protocol. The hypothesis of increased morbidity where the possibility of pathology was made explicit was not supported. At 2 months, the explanation group had a greater reduction on Impact of Events Scale – Revised (IES-R) total scores, F(1,151) = 3.98, p = .048, and on the General Health Questionnaire – 28 (GHQ-28) Anxiety and Insomnia subscale, F(1,151) = 9.84, p = .002, and total score F(1,150) = 5.05, p = .026. High-avoidance copers in particular appeared to benefit from information provision, F(1,148) = 4.26, p = .044. Results suggest that adverse findings associated with PD may not be due to information sensitising of participants to pathology and that the provision of information to trauma survivors appears to be a useful strategy. Recommendations were made regarding the management of those exposed to trauma and for future research

Adverse effect · Anxiety · Debriefing · Psychiatry · Psychological trauma · Clinical Psychology · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research · Psychology · Social Psychology