Narrative medicine workshops to support teens and young adults with anorexia nervosa (virtual)
Official title: Incorporating Narrative Into the Treatment of Youth With Anorexia Nervosa
Run by University of California, San Francisco · NCT07579442 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program tests whether a six-week series of narrative medicine workshops can help 16–25-year-olds with anorexia nervosa express themselves, reflect, and build resilience.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 16 Years to 25 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 10 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of California, San Francisco Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (San Francisco, California) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 2, 2026 |
| Main results expected | July 1, 2027 |
| Study ends | July 1, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | October 6, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07579442 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are 16–25 years old with a DSM-5 diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, medically stable and engaged in outpatient eating-disorder treatment, English fluent, and able to participate in group-based reflective writing.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are medically unstable, require inpatient care, have recent active suicidal ideation or recent non-suicidal self-injury, or have excluded psychiatric diagnoses (e.g., psychosis, bipolar, personality disorder) are unlikely to benefit from this group-based intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Participants who are medically stable and engaged in outpatient eating-disorder treatment join six weekly virtual workshops led by the UCSF team that use close reading, creative writing prompts, and guided group discussion. Each session focuses on themes such as self-definition, kindness, resilience, and possibility and includes time for reflective writing and sharing. Outcomes focus on measures of self-expression, reflection, emotional processing, and resilience collected before and after the curriculum. Individuals with active suicidal ideation, recent non-suicidal self-injury, psychosis, bipolar disorder, or personality disorders are excluded to ensure safety and group suitability.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the workshops could help participants improve emotional expression, processing, and resilience that support ongoing recovery in outpatient care.
How similar studies have gone: Writing-based and narrative interventions have shown promise for improving expression and coping in other populations, but similar approaches in anorexia nervosa are limited and not yet well-established.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion 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
Where it's running
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UCSF Nancy Friend Pritzker Psychiatry Building
San Francisco, California, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Anoushka Sinha, MD, MS — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Anoushka A Sinha, MD, MS
- Email: anoushka.sinha@ucsf.edu
- Phone: 628-286-6116
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.