Writing About Disease: Effect on Rehabilitation?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients (age 35-70) and asthma patients (age 20-60) referred to a 4 weeks inpatient rehabilitation program - who agree to participate in the project - are randomly assigned to one of three conditions: * Writing about emotional consequences of their disease before the program starts * Writing about physical consequences of their disease before the program starts * Not writing All patients are measured (completing questionnaires at home) on: perceived quality of life, perceived health status and trait anxiety - 2 weeks before the program, 2 weeks after the program and 6 months after the program. FEV1 and 6 min walking distance are measured at the beginning and by the end of the program. In addition to questionnaires, all patients are asked to: * Write in their own words ( 2 weeks after) to evaluate their stay at the rehabilitation clinic; and * Write in their own words (6 months after) about how the disease affects their life at that point. Both quantitative and qualitative data will be used for analysis purposes.