Effectiveness of Autobiographical Rewriting Workshops on the Socio-Professional Functioning of Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder Undergoing Third-Wave Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

NCT ID: NCT07199166

Last Updated: 2025-09-30

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 140 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-10-01
• Study Completion Date: 2028-10-01

Brief Summary

This study evaluates the effectiveness of autobiographical rewriting workshops combined with third-wave Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in improving social and professional functioning in individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). BPD affects approximately 2 to 6% of the general population and is frequently associated with suicidal behaviors, unstable relationships, and low self-esteem. This disorder is often linked to early traumatic experiences that impact autobiographical memory and self-perception. While Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a standard treatment for BPD, it does not fully address all the needs of patients.

The aim of this study is to determine whether autobiographical rewriting, which allows individuals to restructure and reinterpret their memories in a more resilient way, can improve autobiographical memory, self-esteem, and reduce emotional symptoms. Participants will be randomized into two groups: one group will undergo autobiographical rewriting workshops in addition to third-wave CBT sessions, while the other group will participate in non-specific writing sessions also in addition to third-wave CBT sessions. The study will compare the two groups to evaluate the effectiveness of autobiographical rewriting workshops in enhancing social and professional well-being.

Expected outcomes include improvements in interpersonal relationships, greater professional stability, and a reduction in emotional symptoms assessed immediately post-intervention, then 3 months and 6 months after. This study may offer a complementary therapeutic approach to existing treatments, helping patients manage their symptoms more effectively and improve their quality of life.

Conditions

Borderline Personality Disorder; Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

INTERVENTION GROUP

Sessions of maintenance in third-wave CBT as part of the usual treatment plan (10 weekly sessions of 45 minutes over 10 weeks) + Autobiographical Rewriting Workshops (10 autobiographical rewriting sessions over 10 weeks, one session per week)

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Autobiographical Rewriting Workshops

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

10 two-hour autobiographical rewriting workshop sessions, held weekly. This program encourages participants to explore their own history in a way that fosters narrative resilience, highlighting their ability to overcome challenges, transform failures into learning opportunities, express themselves creatively, reexamine their memories, and rebuild a more positive sense of identity that better aligns with the needs of accurate self-recognition of their potential. This program is particularly inspired by the concepts of resilience (Boris Cyrulnik), identification (Karine Gros), the Hero's Journey (Joseph Campbell), narrative therapy (David Denborough), and works on various types of story structures (Blake Snyder).

CONTROL GROUP

Third-wave CBT maintenance sessions as part of the usual treatment plan (10 weekly sessions of 45 minutes over 10 weeks) + Non-specific Writing Workshops (10 autobiographical non-specific writing sessions over 10 weeks, one session per week)

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Non-specific writing workshops

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

10 sessions of 2 hours of non-specific writing, held weekly. To increase the active role of the participants, they will be encouraged to write on the theme of the session during the time between sessions. The writing themes are non-specific, unlike the intervention group, and include topics such as poetry, historical events, nature reports, imaginary interviews, children's stories, etc.

Interventions

Autobiographical Rewriting Workshops

10 two-hour autobiographical rewriting workshop sessions, held weekly. This program encourages participants to explore their own history in a way that fosters narrative resilience, highlighting their ability to overcome challenges, transform failures into learning opportunities, express themselves creatively, reexamine their memories, and rebuild a more positive sense of identity that better aligns with the needs of accurate self-recognition of their potential. This program is particularly inspired by the concepts of resilience (Boris Cyrulnik), identification (Karine Gros), the Hero's Journey (Joseph Campbell), narrative therapy (David Denborough), and works on various types of story structures (Blake Snyder).

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Non-specific writing workshops

10 sessions of 2 hours of non-specific writing, held weekly. To increase the active role of the participants, they will be encouraged to write on the theme of the session during the time between sessions. The writing themes are non-specific, unlike the intervention group, and include topics such as poetry, historical events, nature reports, imaginary interviews, children's stories, etc.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Subjects with borderline personality disorder (assessed by SCID-2),
• Subjects aged between 18 and 45 years (inclusive).

Exclusion Criteria

• Psychotic disorder (assessed by SCID),
• Subjects deprived of their liberty (by judicial or administrative decision, or involuntary hospitalization),
• Subjects under legal protection (guardianship, curatorship, or judicial protection),
• Subjects not affiliated with a social security,
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women,
• Inability to understand the nature, purpose, and methodology of the study,
• Inability to understand, speak, or write French,
• Failure to provide informed oral consent to participate in the study.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 45 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

University Hospital, Montpellier

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Other Identifiers

RECHMPL24_0016

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id