Emotional Disclosure in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

Although dealing with ALS involves a number of psychological issues, not many studies have focused on examining the psychological aspects of ALS, and, so far, none have included a psychological intervention. This is surprising because several researchers have suggested that ALS patients' psychological adjustment may be more important to their quality of life than the physical progression of their disease. Our study wiJIlook at how emotional disclosure, a psychological intervention, might affect ALS patients' physical and psychological health and overall quality of life. Emotional disclosure, which simply involves writing or talking about a stressful or traumatic event over three days, has been tested in patients with other chronic diseases and been linked to fewer visits to the doctor, better mood, and even a healthier immune system. Based on this research, we are hopeful that the emotional disclosure intervention will result in more stable physical health and better psychological health for ALS patients. Disclosure may provide ALS patients with an outlet for their emotional responses to the disease in a private, simple, and inexpensive way. We will test this intervention with the long-term goal of finding a practical strategy to enhance ALS patients' quality of life.