Journaling acts as an outlet for negative thoughts, stress, pain, and intense emotions. Thus, depression journals can be applied to a wide range of conditions and populations. Digital journals can help patients find a healthy way to express negative feelings, control symptoms of depression, and manage a healthy lifestyle. Some of the main applications of depression journals are spread across multiple domains.

Symptoms, duration, and forms of depression: Depression journals can be beneficial to determine symptoms, triggers, duration, and types of depression. Depression is a complex phenomenon, so it’s not surprising there are different types and subtypes of depression. Major depressive disorder, for instance, is one of the most common forms of depression, characterized by severely low mood, which has been persistent for at least two weeks. Dysthymia or persistent depressive disorder, on the other hand, is a term used to describe a depressed mood lasting for at least two years. Depression journals can help patients indicate the duration of episodes and frequency of mood changes and allow experts to differentiate the nature of the specific condition. Interestingly, psychotic depression is another severe form of depression, or when a person suffers from both depression and psychosis (including delusions and hallucinations). Depression journals can be beneficial in psychotic depression to help patients list and analyze negative thoughts and irrational fears. Depression is also common in bipolar disorder (followed by manic episodes) and seasonal affective disorder. Note that usually, depression peaks during the winter months when there’s less sunlight. In fact, depression journaling can be used to assess risks, triggers, and connections between events. Last but not least, experts should focus on postpartum depression, which is a serious condition that affects many women after birth. Depression journals can help new parents and families cope with suicidal thoughts and decrease the effect depression may have on their parenting (“Depression,” 2018). Note that some patients may need medication to manage their depression, so journals can help experts track drug compliance.

Demographic factors and history of depression: Depression is a complex phenomenon that affects a wide variety of populations. There are various risks factors for depression, such as the family history of depression, social factors (e.g., poverty), trauma, and physical illnesses. Depression affects many people, including children and adolescents. In fact, journaling can be applied to pediatric populations. Journals, which are close to the diaries some children use, can help young people report depression and its debilitating effects. Interestingly, a recent study, based on data stored in the Media Behavior and Influence Study (MBIS) database (N = 19,776 subjects), analyzed the effects of media on depression and behavior. The research team used self-reports of depression and found a connection between depression and media use (e.g., television and social media) (Block et al., 2014). We should mention that another study found a link between depression and Internet addiction, which is now classified as a psychiatric disorder. Hence, depression journals become beneficial tools to report factors, such as demographics (e.g., age) and risk factors (e.g., media consumption) in young adults. When it comes to age differences, journals also become effective geropsychiatric measures. In fact, depression in later life is a global health concern. Note that other common tools utilized to assess depression in older people include the Geriatric Depression Scale, the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 currently, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (Balsamo et al., 2018).

Psychosomatic and behavioral aspects of depression: Depression affects a patient’s physical, emotional, cognitive, and social functioning. For that reason, depression journals can be utilized to track changes in appetite, sleep, mood, reasoning, and social interactions. Interestingly, depression can affect even a patient’s vision. A recent study revealed that depression correlates with poor vision (assessed by the NEI VFQ-25) (Paz et al., 2013). Since depression affects all aspects of a patient’s life, depression leads to poor quality of life. In fact, research reveals a strong association between depression and poor quality of life (as well as low functioning scores), especially in patients with a chronic disease (e.g., cardiovascular disease). Note that medication use can lead to depression, so journals can be used to track drug administration and compliance.

Depression journals with their various applications have numerous benefits. As explained above, journaling can improve patient outcomes and act as an alternative to treatment. Depression journals can help patients explore and manage their condition and its adverse effects.

Understand their condition: Journaling can help patients express their negative thoughts, track triggers of depression, and explore interventions. In fact, although expressive journaling may not reduce the occurrence of negative thoughts, it can limit their impact and improve symptoms (Lepore, 1997). Journaling can also help people increase their tolerance of unpredictable events and reduce any unrealistic feelings of guilt and shame (“Benefits of journaling for depression, anxiety and stress management,” 2018).

Change their lifestyle: By helping patients gain a rational understanding of their condition, journaling can help patients set realistic goals (e.g., exercising or attending social events) in order to improve their mood. Interestingly, a study showed that walking in nature is a practical step, which is beneficial for individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Berman and colleagues recruited 20 people with major depression to test if nature walks can benefit depressed patients. After a 50-min natural walk, participants showed an increase in memory span (assessed via backward digit span (BDS) task) and mood (assessed via PANAS) (Berman et al., 2012). In addition, journals can track sleep patterns and food intake.

Reduce major depression and symptoms: One of the main benefits of depression journals is their capability to reduce symptoms. A study revealed that people diagnosed with major depressive disorder showed lower depression scores after three days of expressive writing (20 minutes per day). To be more precise, 40 participants completed a series of assessments; after which, they were randomly assigned to an expressive writing condition (about feelings and emotional events) or a control condition (neutral daily activities). The participants assigned to the expressive writing condition revealed a decrease in depression (assessed via Beck Depression Inventory and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores) – a positive effect that persisted at the follow-up period as well (Krpan et al., 2013).

Substitute cognitive behavioral therapy: Journals can even substitute cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). A study showed that writing in a journal may be as beneficial as cognitive behavioral therapy, especially in high-risk adolescents. The study recruited high-risk and depressed adolescents (N = 225, M age = 18) who were randomized to the following conditions: cognitive behavioral therapy, supportive-expressive group intervention, bibliotherapy, expressive writing, and journaling. The results showed that all five interventions had a positive effect on depression, and journaling was as effective as therapy (Stice et al., 2007). Talking about young adults, college students can also benefit from expressive writing. A study showed that journaling could reduce brooding and rumination, which are among the major risk factors for depression (Gortner et al., 2006).

Overcome trauma: A major benefit of depression journals is to help patients overcome trauma and prevent fatal outcomes. In fact, expressive writing can reduce symptoms of depression in women who suffered intimate partner violence. Koopman and colleagues conducted a study to explore the effects of expressive writing on depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and pain symptoms in women who survived violence. In depressed victims, findings showed that expressive writing might lead to a decrease in depression symptoms and improvement in lifestyle (Koopman et al., 2005).