A Group-based Treatment for Self-stigma in People With Mental Disorders in North-east Italy

Self-stigma refers to the internalization of negative stereotypes by individuals with mental disorders, leading to beliefs that they are dangerous, aggressive, or incapable of working. This phenomenon has harmful effects on various aspects of life, such as adherence to treatment, self-esteem, quality of life, and can increase feelings of despair and suicide risk. To address these issues, the Narrative Enhancement and Cognitive Therapy (NECT) was developed. NECT is a group-based intervention consisting of 20 sessions designed to reduce self-stigma in individuals with mental disorders. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of NECT in 416 patients from 26 mental health centers in Northeast Italy. It is structured as a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized controlled trial with two parallel arms. The study will assess the impact of NECT on several psychological dimensions, including levels of self-stigma, self-esteem, hope, empowerment, perception of recovery, mental well-being, and stigma-related stress. The findings of this research are expected to contribute to the understanding of effective treatments for patients with mental disorders, particularly those burdened by high levels of self-stigma, and to improve their recovery outcomes.

NCT Number	NCT06567145
Lead Sponsor	Universita di Verona
Conditions	Stigma, Mental Disorders, Self-stigma
Enrollment	416 participants
Start Date	2024-10-01
Primary Completion	2025-10-01 (estimated)
Study Completion	2025-10-01 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2024-11-26