Telling Life Stories to Support Recovery
Recovery in Telling Life Stories (RETELL): Testing a Narrative Identity Intervention for Personal Recovery in Individuals With Severe Mental Illness
This project tests a short narrative-therapy program for adults with severe mental illness to help them reframe their life stories and support personal recovery.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Aarhus Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Aarhus C) |
| Trial ID | NCT07082777 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
RETELL is a narrative-repair intervention delivered across 8–12 sessions designed to help people with severe mental illness explore the personal consequences of illness and strengthen a more positive narrative identity. The project focuses on feasibility of the intervention and study procedures and uses a multiple single-case A–B–A design to examine change over time. Researchers will also collect preliminary outcome data on recovery, quality of life, symptoms, functioning, self-stigma, and personality. Participants are adults who speak Danish, are aged 18–65, and have stabilized medication regimens.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 18–65 with a self-reported diagnosis of severe mental illness who are not in full recovery, speak Danish, have had stable medication for at least eight weeks, and can attend 8–12 sessions are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People with significant cognitive impairment, active suicidality, substance use or psychiatric symptoms that prevent session attendance, non-Danish speakers, or those already in full recovery are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, RETELL could help participants rebuild a more positive sense of self, reduce self-stigma, and improve overall quality of life.
How similar studies have performed: Narrative-identity and narrative-therapy approaches have shown promising but limited evidence in small studies, so RETELL builds on preliminary positive findings while remaining relatively novel for severe mental illness.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults between the ages of 18 and 65 years * A self-reported principal diagnosis of one or more of the following: schizophrenia (F20), bipolar disorder (F31), personality disorders (F60), obsessive-compulsive disorder (F42), anxiety disorders (F41), recurrent depressive disorder (F33), eating disorders (F50), hyperkinetic disorders (F90), post-traumatic stress disorder (F43.1), Asperger syndrome (F84.5) * Not in full recovery (Brief INSPIRE-O \< 50) * Danish language proficiency * Medication stabilized (i.e., same type and dosage for a minimum of 8 weeks) * Ability and willingness to give informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Self-reported diagnosis of mental retardation (F70-79) and/or organic mental disorder (F00-09) * Psychiatric symptoms, thoughts of self-harm and/or substance abuse of self-reported severity which are likely to prevent one or all of the following: attendance at scheduled sessions, completion of questionnaires before, during and after the intervention, meaningful engagement in the therapeutic process * Psychiatric hospitalization in the past 4 weeks * Prior conviction of violent crime * Currently homeless * Currently in psychotherapy initiated within the past 6 months.
Where this trial is running
Aarhus C
- Aarhus Univerity — Aarhus C, Denmark (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Dinne S. Christensen, PhD
- Email: dsc@psy.au.dk
- Phone: +4522317461
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.