“Name it to tame it”: piloting a narrative medicine clinical intervention for adolescents and young adults with anorexia nervosa

PURPOSE: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is highly morbid, particularly in adolescence. Narrative-based interventions, which employ storytelling and self-reflection, have improved outcomes for patients with various conditions, but narrative medicine specifically has not been studied in adolescents with AN. This study piloted and evaluated a narrative medicine clinical intervention for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with AN in an outpatient setting. METHODS: Participants (ages 16-25), stable for outpatient care and in therapy for AN, were recruited through eating disorder clinics and community referrals. The clinical intervention consisted of a 6-week narrative medicine workshop series around themes including identity, embodiment, and resilience. Surveys assessed the intervention's acceptability, while clinical instruments assessed mental health and eating disorder symptoms; Wilcoxon signed-rank tests evaluated pre- and post-intervention differences. Semi-structured interviews elucidated participants' experiences of the intervention, and thematic analysis identified emergent themes. RESULTS: Eight participants enrolled, and seven completed the study. The mean age was 21 ± 4 years, and 75% were female. All participants found the intervention highly acceptable. Mean PHQ-9 scores improved after the intervention (13 to 10, p = 0.046). In qualitative analysis, four themes emerged: gaining insight into one's condition, connecting over shared experiences, recognizing progress to be made, and viewing the workshops as a different type of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This clinical intervention represents a novel application of narrative medicine for AYAs with AN. Narrative medicine was highly acceptable to participants, who derived meaning and social connection. Future studies may expand the intervention to larger, more diverse populations and further elucidate clinical outcomes and mechanisms for change. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT06849830).