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ContextNonpharmacological treatments with little patient cost or risk are useful supplements to pharmacotherapy in the treatment of patients with chronic illness. Research has demonstrated that writing about emotionally traumatic experiences has a surprisingly beneficial effect on symptom reports, well-being, and health care use in healthy individuals.ObjectiveTo determine if writing about stressful life experiences affects disease status in patients with asthma or rheumatoid arthritis using standardized quantitative outcome measures.DesignRandomized controlled trial conducted between October 1996 and December 1997.SettingOutpatient community residents drawn from private and institutional practice.PatientsVolunteer sample of 112 patients with asthma (n=61) or rheumatoid arthritis (n=51) received the intervention; 107 completed the study, 58 in the asthma group and 49 in the rheumatoid arthritis group …