Therapeutic Writing for Adults Suffering From Chronic Pain and Comorbid Mental Health Disorders

Chronic pain affects approximately 20% of the global population and represents one of the most widespread causes of disability worldwide. Individuals living with chronic pain often experience additional mental health challenges-such as depression, anxiety, or trauma-related disorders-which compound their suffering and reduce quality of life. Traditional pain management strategies often focus on physical symptoms, while the emotional and psychological dimensions may remain under-addressed.

This study aims to explore the potential of therapeutic writing-a psychological intervention that encourages participants to express and process emotions through guided writing exercises-as a complementary approach for improving health and well-being in individuals with both chronic pain and mental health conditions.

The study is being conducted at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of Satasairaala Hospital in Finland and involves five adult female participants with chronic pain and comorbid psychiatric conditions. Each participant will engage in a two-part writing intervention that incorporates techniques grounded in emotional processing, emotion regulation, and meaning-making. These exercises are designed to help individuals articulate their internal experiences, explore the personal impact of pain and illness, and foster a sense of psychological coherence.

Data collection spans two sub-studies:

Sub-studies 1 and 2 involve qualitative interviews with participants following the intervention, capturing their firsthand experiences and perceived effects.

The qualitative data will be analyzed using a multi-method approach, combining phenomenological analysis-which highlights the participants' lived experiences-and logotherapy-informed analysis, which examines how therapeutic writing supports the search for meaning during rehabilitation. This dual approach provides a comprehensive view of how narrative expression may influence recovery pathways.

The ultimate goal is to identify writing-based strategies that can complement clinical care for this patient population and inform future updates to rehabilitation programs and treatment guidelines-both locally and nationally. If proven beneficial, therapeutic writing could serve as an accessible, cost-effective, and non-pharmacological tool to enhance holistic pain care and mental health support.

Inclusion criteria

• Adult women (18 years or older), assigned female at birth and self-identify as women
• Diagnosed with or experience of chronic, widespread (non-cancer) pain lasting at least two years
• Diagnosed with or living with one or more mild mental health disorders (e.g., anxiety, mild depression), without current or past severe psychiatric conditions
• Diagnosed with or experience of nociplastic pain (e.g., fibromyalgia)
• Not currently using medications that may impair cognitive functioning (e.g., benzodiazepines, anticholinergics, opioids, antipsychotics)
• Able to attend approximately 11 in-person visits over a 3-month period
• Willing and able to participate in a structured therapeutic writing intervention
• Purposefully selected to reflect a range of lived experiences relevant to the study's aims

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of severe mental health disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression, or other psychotic conditions)
• Use of medications known to impair memory, attention, or decision-making (e.g., benzodiazepines, anticholinergics, opioids, antipsychotics)
• Participation in other concurrent treatments that may influence study outcomes
• Cognitive limitations that would hinder meaningful engagement in the writing intervention
• Individuals not assigned female at birth or who do not identify as women