Poor cognitive-emotional processing may impede the outcome of emotional disclosure interventions
Authors: van Middendorp, Henriët1; Geenen, Rinie2
Source: British Journal of Health Psychology, Volume 13, Number 1, February 2008 , pp. 49-52(4)
Publisher: British Psychological Society
Abstract:
ObjectivesTo examine the potential relevance of alexithymia and induced cognitive-emotional processing for the efficacy of emotional disclosure. MethodsAssociations 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). ResultsCognitive 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. ConclusionOur study suggests that poor cognitive-emotional processing may impede the outcome of emotional disclosure interventions.Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1348/135910707X251199
Affiliations: 1: Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands 2: Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands, Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

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