Incorporating Narrative Into the Treatment of Youth With Anorexia Nervosa

NCT06849830 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 24-43017
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 8
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Number of participants in each session

  Feasibility will be measured by participant retention in intervention.

  Immediately post-intervention (Week 6)

• Satisfaction with intervention components using 5-point Likert scales and semi-structured individual interviews

  Acceptability will be measured by questionnaire including 5-point Likert scales and semi-structured individual interviews assessing content relevance, writing prompts, group discussions, and facilitation. Scale title: Intervention Satisfaction Questionnaire (ISQ) Minimum value: 1 (Strongly Disagree) Maximum value: 5 (Strongly Agree) Interpretation: Higher scores indicate greater satisfaction with the intervention (better outcome).

  Immediately post-intervention (Week 6)

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Identity Clarity

  Pre- (Week 0) and immediately post-intervention (Week 6)

• Social Connectedness

  Pre- (Week 0) and immediately post-intervention (Week 6)

• Depression Symptoms

  Pre- (Week 0) and immediately post-intervention (Week 6)

• Anxiety Symptoms

  Pre- (Week 0) and immediately post-intervention (Week 6)

• Eating Disorder Severity

  Pre- (Week 0) and immediately post-intervention (Week 6)

Study Arms (1)

Narrative Medicine (NM) Workshop Series

EXPERIMENTAL

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

Behavioral: Narrative Medicine (NM) Workshop Series

Interventions

Narrative Medicine (NM) Workshop Series 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

Narrative Medicine (NM) Workshop Series

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 16 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• 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

You may not qualify if:

• 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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of California, San Francisco: lead

Study Sites (1)

UCSF Nancy Friend Pritzker Psychiatry Building

San Francisco, California, 94158, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Knio L, Sridhar H. Phenomenology of Identity: Narrative Medicine Curricula in the Care of Eating Disorders. J Med Humanit. 2025 Dec;46(4):673-696. doi: 10.1007/s10912-025-09929-6. Epub 2025 Jan 27.

  PMID: 39869237 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anorexia Nervosa

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Feeding and Eating Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Anoushka Sinha, MD, MS

  University of California, San Francisco

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 8, 2025
• First Posted: February 27, 2025
• Study Start: March 19, 2025
• Primary Completion: May 31, 2025
• Study Completion: May 31, 2025
• Last Updated: July 4, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)