The impact of expressive writing intervention on the changes of blood pressure of patients with cardiovascular disease

Abstract

Elevated blood pressure is a major cardiovascular risk factor. Researchers reported that expressive writing results in significant improvements of blood pressure. Aim: To examine the effects of expressive writing on blood pressure changes in rehabilitation hospital patients with cardiovascular disease. Methods: BP was evaluated before and after each of the four writing-sessions in 68 patients, randomly assigned into expressive writing, neutral writing or non-writing groups. Results: The within-group findings exhibited significant decrease in systolic BP in expressive writing (p¼0.033) and neutral writing (p¼0.001) participants, and significant decrease in diastolic BP in neutral writing (p¼0.001) participants after intervention. The between-group findings demonstrated greater decrease in systolic BP (p¼0.034) and diastolic BP (p¼0.002) in neutral writing participants compared to expressive writing participants. Conclusion: Results from this study are consistent with previous findings that expressive writing may be beneficial for rehabilitation hospital patients with cardiovascular disease as a blood pressure lowering strategy.