Promoting Recovery by Overcoming Self-stigma in Mental Health Disorders With a Narrative Enhancement and Cognitive Therapy (NECT) Group Intervention

Starting soon · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Mental Disorders, Substance Use Disorders

In brief

This study will evaluate whether Narrative Enhancement and Cognitive Therapy (NECT) can promote recovery among adults living with severe mental health disorders, including substance use disorders. NECT is a structured group intervention that combines education about stigma, cognitive techniques to challenge internalized negative beliefs, and narrative exercises that help participants develop a broader identity beyond their diagnosis. Approximately 106 adults receiving outpatient or day-hospital psychiatric care at Geneva University Hospitals will be randomly assigned to receive either usual care plus 12 weekly NECT sessions or usual care plus 12 comparison group sessions that do not specifically address self-stigma or recovery. The study will examine whether NECT improves recovery after the intervention and whether any benefits are maintained over time.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07735481

Run by

Louise Penzenstadler

People needed

106

Starts

2026-10-01

Expected to finish

2029-09-30

Last updated by the study team

2026-08-05

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Written informed consent
• DSM-5 psychiatric diagnosis within F10-F48, F60-F69, or F90, including substance use disorders
• Receiving outpatient or day-hospital treatment
• Diagnosed or in treatment for at least 12 months
• Clinically stable for at least 3 months, with stable pharmacological treatment during this period
• Clinical Global Impressions-Severity score below 6

You may not qualify if…

• Participation in another program likely to affect social functioning or self-stigma, such as social cognitive remediation or social skills training
• Acute psychiatric episode with a Clinical Global Impressions-Severity score above 6
• Medical emergency or immediate life-threatening situation at inclusion
• Unable to provide informed consent
• Comorbid intellectual disability
• Receiving care under constraint or deprived of liberty by judicial order Insufficient ability to speak and read French

Where it is running

• Geneva University Hospital — Geneva, Canton of Geneva, Switzerland

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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