Henriët van Middendorp1, Rinie Geenen. 1. Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. H.vanMiddendorp@uu.nl
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To examine the potential relevance of alexithymia and induced cognitive-emotional processing for the efficacy of emotional disclosure. METHODS: Associations were examined of alexithymia and emotional and cognitive word use with self-assessed psychological and disease activity outcome in 37 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (23 females; mean age 58 years). RESULTS: Cognitive and positive emotion word use during the disclosure sessions predicted improved psychological well-being but not disease activity after the intervention. Negative emotion word use and alexithymia did not significantly predict outcome. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that poor cognitive-emotional processing may impede the outcome of emotional disclosure interventions.
OBJECTIVES: To examine the potential relevance of alexithymia and induced cognitive-emotional processing for the efficacy of emotional disclosure. METHODS: Associations were examined of alexithymia and emotional and cognitive word use with self-assessed psychological and disease activity outcome in 37 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (23 females; mean age 58 years). RESULTS: Cognitive and positive emotion word use during the disclosure sessions predicted improved psychological well-being but not disease activity after the intervention. Negative emotion word use and alexithymia did not significantly predict outcome. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that poor cognitive-emotional processing may impede the outcome of emotional disclosure interventions.
Authors: Cesar Ramos-Remus; José Dionisio Castillo-Ortiz; Carlos Sandoval-Castro; Francisco Paez-Agraz; Adriana Sanchez-Ortiz; Francisco Javier Aceves-Avila Journal: Rheumatol Int Date: 2014-05-24 Impact factor: 2.631