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Writing therapy eases breast cancer drug side effects, study finds

NCT ID NCT04651452

Symptom relief Sponsor: Carnegie Mellon University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

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Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed This study
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether a simple writing exercise about personal values could reduce physical symptoms and stress, and improve medication adherence in 250 breast cancer patients taking aromatase inhibitors. Participants wrote one essay per month for six months, either about their core values or a neutral topic. The study measured symptoms, stress, and medication use with electronic pill bottles.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Value affirmation writing tasks
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a simple, low-cost way to help breast cancer patients manage side effects and stick with their medication.
What could go wrong
This is a completed behavioral study, not a drug trial. The benefits may be small or not last long, and results may not apply to all patients.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

250 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Feb 2021

Finished

Apr 2026

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 years and older

Sex

Female participants only

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Breast cancer diagnosis * Prescribed an aromatase inhibitor within four weeks of enrollment or anticipates being prescribed one in the future * Intention to take the prescribed aromatase inhibitor * Fluency in English * Own a smartphone that can support downloaded apps Exclusion Criteria for fMRI component only: * Have implanted metal * Have an implanted electronic medical device * Have an IUD that contains metal * Are currently pregnant * Have a history of claustrophobia * Weigh more than 300 pounds

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

breast cancer breast neoplasm

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Breast cancer

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Carnegie Mellon University

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.