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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:
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:
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.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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:
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| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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:
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| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Identity Clarity | Assessed using the Erikson Psychosocial Stage Inventory - Identity Subscale (EPS-Identity), which evaluates self-concept clarity and personal identity coherence. Scale title: Erikson Psychosocial Stage Inventory - Identity Subscale (EPS-Identity) Minimum value: 1 (Strongly Disagree) Maximum value: 5 (Strongly Agree) Interpretation: Higher scores indicate stronger identity development and consolidation (better outcome). |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Anoushka Sinha, MD, MS | University of California, San Francisco | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCSF Nancy Friend Pritzker Psychiatry Building | San Francisco | California | 94158 | United States |
| PubMed Identifier | Type | Citation | Retractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 39869237 | Background | 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. | |
| 42015298 | Derived | Sinha A, Tsevat RK, Lin M, Downey AE, Buckelew SM. "Name it to tame it": piloting a narrative medicine clinical intervention for adolescents and young adults with anorexia nervosa. J Eat Disord. 2026 Apr 21;14(1):126. doi: 10.1186/s40337-026-01612-y. |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D000856 | Anorexia Nervosa |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D001068 | Feeding and Eating Disorders |
| D001523 | Mental Disorders |
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| Pre- (Week 0) and immediately post-intervention (Week 6) |
| Social Connectedness | Measured using the Social Connectedness Scale (SCS), which assesses perceived closeness to others and sense of belonging. Scale title: Social Connectedness Scale (SCS) Minimum value: 1 (Strongly Disagree) Maximum value: 6 (Strongly Agree) Interpretation: Higher scores indicate greater feelings of social connectedness and belonging (better outcome). | Pre- (Week 0) and immediately post-intervention (Week 6) |
| Depression Symptoms | Measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depressive symptoms. Scale title: Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) Minimum value: 0 (Not at all) Maximum value: 3 (Nearly every day) Interpretation: Higher scores indicate greater severity of depressive symptoms (worse outcome). | Pre- (Week 0) and immediately post-intervention (Week 6) |
| Anxiety Symptoms | Measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) for anxiety. Scale title: Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) Scale Minimum value: 0 (Not at all) Maximum value: 3 (Nearly every day) Interpretation: Higher scores indicate greater severity of anxiety symptoms (worse outcome). | Pre- (Week 0) and immediately post-intervention (Week 6) |
| Eating Disorder Severity | Measured using the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), which captures cognitive and behavioral symptoms of AN, and percent of expected body weight (EBW) at follow-up. Scale title: Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) Minimum value: 0 (No days / Not at all) Maximum value: 6 (Every day / Extremely) Interpretation: Higher scores indicate greater severity of eating disorder psychopathology (worse outcome). | Pre- (Week 0) and immediately post-intervention (Week 6) |