Abstract
Background: Writing about traumatic or emotional events can result in improvements in physical and psychological health. The objective of the current pilot study is to evaluate the impact of an expressive writing group on the psychological functioning of individuals living with HIV. Methods: Thirty-one participants with HIV completed measures of psychological distress prior to and following the Narrative Competence Psychotherapy (NCP) intervention. Open-ended questions designed to assess participants' perceptions of the NCP group were completed after the intervention. Results: Significant improvements in some of the measures from pre- to post-intervention (e.g. self-esteem) were found through paired t-tests. Thematic analysis of the post-group questionnaires revealed a positive view of the NCP experience. Conclusion: The results are consistent with those of previous studies using expressive writing in other patient populations. The results suggest that this type of intervention may provide benefit for patients dealing with the psychological impact of chronic illness.
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