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R4. The Use of Emotionally Expressive and Narrative Writing to Facilitate Coping and Adaptation after Stroke

Contact Information:

Robert Hartke, Ph.D.
rhartke@ric.org

Rosemarie B. King, Ph.D.
rbking@northwestern.edu

Florence Denby, CNP
fdenby@ric.org

Abstract

This study assesses how writing in different ways about the experience of recovery can help physical and psychological health and activity after stroke.  Expressive, narrative writing has not been tested with stroke survivors as a means of facilitating adaptation. Phase I of this project is a randomized controlled study of the efficacy of expressive writing to deal with the trauma associated with stroke recovery. Seventy-six subjects, six months or more post stroke, will be randomly assigned to write about different topics associated with stroke recovery over a four session period with the help of a Peer Mentor and modifications to accommodate impairments. Data will be collected at baseline, post intervention, and four months to assess the effect of writing on physical and psychological health and activity. Phase II is a quasi-experimental, within subjects design with a subsample from Phase I assessing the use of writing groups to produce narratives of stroke recovery for publication.

Personal Narratives

Below you will find essays from participants in our research project on expressive and narrative writing. These essays are narratives about personal experiences in their stroke recovery. Each is available as a PDF.

Note: You will need Adobe's Acrobat Reader to view these documents. If you do not already have Adobe Acrobat installed, download it for free (opens in new window).

A Change in My Life PDF (opens in new window) 
Overcoming by Faith PDF (opens in new window)
Losses and Gains PDF (opens in new window)
If I Knew Then What I Know Now PDF (opens in new window)
A Family Recovers PDF (opens in new window)
The Arrival of a Stroke: From Confusion to Self Acceptance PDF (opens in new window)
There's Rehab and Then There's REHAB! PDF (opens in new window)
A Stroke of Bad Luck: My Experience of Recovery PDF (opens in new window)
Restoring a Sense of Self PDF (opens in new window)
Life After Stroke: Never Stop Fighting PDF (opens in new window)
The Open Road PDF (opens in new window)
Reflections on My Stroke and How It Has Changed Me PDF (opens in new window)
My Experience of Recovery PDF (opens in new window)
Driving - My Gnawing Anguish PDF (opens in new window)
The Nightmare You Can Wake Up From PDF (opens in new window) 
The Surprise Healing PDF (opens in new window)
My Journey to Survive PDF (opens in new window)
I Thought of It As A Challenge PDF (opens in new window)
My Aphasia PDF (opens in new window)
My Life Is Not My Fault, But It Is My Responsibility PDF (opens in new window) 
My Story PDF (opens in new window)
Removing Obstacles PDF (opens in new window)
A Chapter in My Road to Recovery PDF (opens in new window)
From Stroke Victim to Stroke Survivor to Health Care Reform Advocate PDF (opens in new window)
God, My Marathon Partner PDF (opens in new window)
Victory in What Seems Like Defeat PDF (opens in new window)
Visually Unimpaired PDF (opens in new window)
 

Page Updated Wednesday, May 23, 2007