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  • Title: The effects of an expressive writing intervention on pregnancy rates, alexithymia and psychophysical health during an assisted reproductive treatment.
    Author: Renzi A, Solano L, Di Trani M, Ginobbi F, Minutolo E, Tambelli R.
    Journal: Psychol Health; 2020 Jun; 35(6):718-733. PubMed ID: 31549861.
    Abstract:
    Objective: World Health Organization reported that in developed countries one in four couples experience infertility with serious implications for the psychophysical well-being. Aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Pennebaker's writing technique on pregnancy rates, alexithymia and psychophysical health during an assisted reproductive treatment (ART).Method: 91 women admitted for an ART were randomly divided into two groups: an experimental one (n = 46), where women wrote about their thoughts and emotions concerning the infertility experience, and a control group (n = 45) where women did not write. All subjects completed a socio-demographic questionnaire, the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the Symptoms Checklist-90-R before and after the writing sessions.Results: A significant difference in pregnancy rates between the experimental group (n = 13) and the control group (n = 5) was found (χ2 = 4.216; p < .04). A significant difference was also found between women who participated in the study (experimental + control= 91) and women who declined to participate, in the direction of more ART successes (n = 18 vs. n = 0) in the group of women who participated (χ2 = 10.17; p < .01).Conclusions: The findings support the usefulness of the writing technique during ART in promoting treatment success.
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