Incorporating Narrative Into the Treatment of Youth With Anorexia Nervosa

NCT ID: NCT06849830

Last Updated: 2025-07-04

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 8 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-03-19
• Study Completion Date: 2025-05-31

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a narrative medicine (NM) curriculum can enhance self-expression, reflection, and resilience in adolescents and young adults with anorexia nervosa.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does participation in an NM curriculum improve self-expression and reflection in individuals with anorexia nervosa?
• Does engaging in creative writing and group discussion promote resilience and emotional processing in this population?

Participants will be 16-25 years old, medically stable for outpatient eating disorder therapy, and actively engaged in treatment. Those with active suicidal ideation, recent non-suicidal self-injury, or a co-occurring personality disorder will not be eligible.

Participants will:

• Attend six weekly workshops (April-May 2025) focused on themes such as self-definition, kindness, resilience, and possibility
• Engage in close reading of visual or written texts
• Complete creative writing exercises in response to prompts
• Participate in group discussions and sharing

An optional capstone reading event will provide a supportive space for participants to share their work with peers, loved ones, and providers, fostering connection and community.

This study aims to explore the role of narrative medicine in eating disorder treatment and assess its potential benefits for psychological well-being and self-expression.

Conditions

Anorexia Nervosa

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Narrative Medicine (NM) Workshop Series

Participants in this study will take part in a six-week Narrative Medicine (NM) curriculum designed to enhance self-expression, reflection, and resilience in individuals with anorexia nervosa. Workshops will be conducted weekly at the UCSF Eating Disorders Program and will include:

• Close reading of visual or written texts related to themes such as self-definition, resilience, kindness, and possibility
• Creative writing exercises in response to structured prompts
• Group discussions and sharing to foster community, connection, and self-expression

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Narrative Medicine (NM) Workshop Series

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The Narrative Medicine (NM) Workshop Series is a structured six-week behavioral intervention designed to enhance self-expression, reflection, and resilience in adolescents and young adults recovering from eating disorders. This intervention differs from traditional psychotherapeutic or psychoeducational approaches by integrating literary analysis, creative writing, and guided discussion as therapeutic tools.

Each one-hour weekly workshop includes:

• Close reading of visual or written texts related to themes such as self-definition, resilience, kindness, and possibility
• Creative writing exercises in response to structured prompts that encourage self-reflection and personal storytelling
• Facilitated group discussions to foster connection, self-expression, and emotional processing in a supportive environment

Interventions

Narrative Medicine (NM) Workshop Series

The Narrative Medicine (NM) Workshop Series is a structured six-week behavioral intervention designed to enhance self-expression, reflection, and resilience in adolescents and young adults recovering from eating disorders. This intervention differs from traditional psychotherapeutic or psychoeducational approaches by integrating literary analysis, creative writing, and guided discussion as therapeutic tools.

Each one-hour weekly workshop includes:

• Close reading of visual or written texts related to themes such as self-definition, resilience, kindness, and possibility
• Creative writing exercises in response to structured prompts that encourage self-reflection and personal storytelling
• Facilitated group discussions to foster connection, self-expression, and emotional processing in a supportive environment

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• 16-25 years old
• have a DSM-5 diagnosis of AN (confirmed by the UCSF Eating Disorders Program clinical team),
• currently engaged in outpatient eating disorder treatment, ensuring medical stability and capacity for a group-based intervention
• English fluency to engage in reflective writing and discussions
• Cognitive ability to meaningfully participate in narrative-based exercises

Exclusion Criteria

• Currently medically unstable or require inpatient hospitalization
• History of psychosis, schizophrenia spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, or personality disorder
• Severe neurocognitive impairment that would prevent engagement with the intervention
• Active suicidal ideation or non-suicidal self-injury within the past two months
• Insufficient English proficiency to participate in group discussions and writing exercises

• Minimum Eligible Age: 16 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 25 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

University of California, San Francisco

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Anoushka Sinha, MD, MS

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of California, San Francisco

Locations

UCSF Nancy Friend Pritzker Psychiatry Building

San Francisco, California, United States

Countries

United States

References

Knio L, Sridhar H. Phenomenology of Identity: Narrative Medicine Curricula in the Care of Eating Disorders. J Med Humanit. 2025 Jan 27. doi: 10.1007/s10912-025-09929-6. Online ahead of print.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 39869237 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

24-43017

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id