Recruiting

Narrative Medicine

Sponsor:

UCLA

Code:

NCT07579442

Conditions

Anorexia Nervosa

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 16 - 25

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Narrative Medicine (NM) Workshop Series

Study Details

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 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 ID

NCT07579442

Start date

Oct 2, 2026

Status verified date

Oct, 2026

Completion date

Jul 1, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jul 1, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 16 - 25

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

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

Study Design

Enrollment

10 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Supportive Care

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: 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 on Zoom 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

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

Primary outcome measure

  • Number of participants in each session [ Time Frame: Immediately post-intervention (Week 6) ]
  • Satisfaction with intervention components using 5-point Likert scales and semi-structured individual interviews [ Time Frame: Immediately post-intervention (Week 6) ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Anoushka A Sinha, MD, MS

628-286-6116anoushka.sinha@ucsf.edu

Locations

UCSF Nancy Friend Pritzker Psychiatry Building

Recruiting

San Francisco, California, United States, 94158

Contacts

Sara Buckelew, MD, MPH

415-502-1649sara.buckelew@ucsf.edu

More Information

Sponsor

University of California, San Francisco

Last update posted

Oct 6, 2026

Last verified

Oct, 2026

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-10-07. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of California, San Francisco on 2026-10-06. Recruitment status is synced daily from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the sponsor's current status. Confirm during your call.