Peer-reviewed research
Does Emotional Disclosure About Stress Improve Health in Rheumatoid Arthritis? Randomized, Controlled Trials of Written and Spoken Disclosure
Mark A Lumley et al., Pain, 2011 · DOI 10.1016/j.pain.2011.01.003
Read the originalRead on October 17, 2026
- What it is
- A randomized trial from Wayne State University and partner clinics in Michigan that assigned adults with rheumatoid arthritis to write or speak (into a recorder) about stressful experiences, or to one of two control topics, in four 20-minute home sessions, then followed health outcomes for six months.
- How much weight it carries
- Peer-reviewed, randomized, with blinded physician assessment and follow-up at 1, 3 and 6 months. It studies adults with a chronic disease, not people keeping a diary, and the health effects were modest and not consistent across outcomes, so it shows a pattern rather than a proven effect of journaling.
Facts taken from this source
- In a randomized trial of adults with rheumatoid arthritis, spoken disclosure of stressful experiences led to faster walking speed at 3 months, and reduced pain, swollen joints and physician-rated disease activity at 6 months.
“Spoken disclosure led to faster walking speed at 3 months, and reduced pain, swollen joints, and physician-rated disease activity at 6 months” (Abstract)
- In the same randomized trial of adults with rheumatoid arthritis, written disclosure of stressful experiences had minimal effects compared with the combined control groups.
“written disclosure had minimal effects compared to combined controls” (Abstract)