The Effects of Written Emotional Disclosure on Eating Disorder Pathology in a Clinical Eating Disordered Population

Study of the Efficacy of Written Emotional Disclosure on Eating Disorder Pathology

A technique that has been found to be effective at relieving the physical and psychological symptoms associated with inhibiting emotions and emotional thoughts is written emotional disclosure. The goal of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of written emotional disclosure on the remediation of eating disorder behaviour, cognitions, and management of emotions.

New Partial program participants complete a packet of questionnaires during their initial appointment, which will be used as baseline levels of eating disorder symptoms and psychological health. Participants will complete the writing as part of their eating disorder therapy. The writing will be completed individually. The writing will consist of continuous writing for fifteen minutes on three consecutive days. The experimental group will write about traumatic or stressful experiences, while the control group will objectively describe events. A post-writing packet of questionnaires will be completed one week after completing the writing. A follow-up evaluation will occur four-weeks after completion of the post-writing packet and will include completing a packet of questionnaires and debriefing.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Willing to sign consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unwilling to sign consent form