Promoting Recovery by Overcoming Self-stigma in Mental Health Disorders With a Narrative Enhancem… (NCT07735481) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Promoting Recovery by Overcoming Self-stigma in Mental Health Disorders With a Narrative Enhancement and Cognitive Therapy (NECT) Group Intervention
Switzerland106 participantsStarted 2026-10-01
Plain-language summary
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.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* 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
Exclusion Criteria:
* 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
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Change in personal recovery measured by the Recovery Assessment Scale
Timeframe: Baseline to post-intervention, approximately 12 weeks.