A pragmatic randomized controlled trial of self-directed online writing interventions for posttraumatic stress symptoms in a real-world digital setting.
Eur J PsychotraumatolAug 24, 2026 (epub)
Muyang Li, Jiamin Bao, Tianchen Ni et al.
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In 30 seconds
This pragmatic randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of two self-directed online writing interventions for posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among 211 adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both the Guided Narrative Technique-Writing and Expressive Writing interventions resulted in significant reductions in PTSS severity (GNT-W: b = -0.43, p = .023; EW: b = -0.60, p = .001), with no significant difference between the two methods.
Key findings
- Both writing interventions led to significant reductions in PTSS severity.
- GNT-W showed a reduction of b = -0.43, while EW showed b = -0.60.
- 77% of participants who initiated treatment completed the intervention.
- No significant between-group difference was found in PTSS reduction.
Why it matters
The study highlights the potential of scalable, low-barrier mental health interventions that can be integrated into widely used digital platforms, addressing the growing demand for accessible mental health support.