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The Impact of Creative Writing on Patients With Chronic Pain
Konstantinos Prassas1, Nikolas Dovrolis1, Aikaterini Arvaniti2
1Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupoli, GRC.
Cureus
|August 11, 2026
Summary
Creative writing engagement significantly reduced anxiety and improved self-rated health in chronic pain patients. While pain severity remained stable, the intervention positively impacted overall quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Psychosomatic Medicine
- Clinical Psychology
- Health Psychology
Background:
- Creative writing is a recognized therapeutic modality for various conditions.
- Its impact on the psychosomatic state of chronic pain patients requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effect of creative writing engagement on the psychosomatic state of chronic pain patients.
- To compare outcomes between an intervention group and a waitlist control group.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal controlled quasi-experimental design with 120 adult chronic pain patients.
- Intervention group received creative writing; control group was waitlisted.
- Assessments at baseline, mid-point, and post-intervention (T1, T2, T3).
Main Results:
- The intervention group showed progressive improvement in self-rated health and decreased anxiety.
- Pain severity and functional impairment remained stable in the intervention group.
- The control group exhibited minimal changes across all measured outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Creative writing intervention led to significant reductions in anxiety and improvements in self-rated health.
- While group-level pain severity did not change, the intervention altered its relationship with quality of life.
- Creative writing offers a valuable adjunct for managing the psychosocial aspects of chronic pain.
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