Active not recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Narrative Enhancement and Cognitive Therapy for Self-Stigma in Youth

This study is testing a new type of talking therapy called Narrative Enhancement and Cognitive Therapy for Youth (NECT-Y). It's designed to help young people (aged 16-29) who have bipolar disorder or several other mental health conditions. The main goal is to see if NECT-Y can help reduce 'self-stigma' – that's when someone has negative thoughts or feelings about themselves because of their mental health. Researchers want to find out if it's practical to run a bigger study on NECT-Y, if the therapists can deliver it properly, and if young people find it helpful. Participants will either get the NECT-Y therapy online for 14 weeks or receive their usual care, and they'll answer some questions over time.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Enrolment target

Start

28 Oct 2024

Estimated completion

30 Jun 2026

Bipolar Disorder Multiple Mental Health Conditions

What is this study about?

Imagine you have a mental health condition, and sometimes you feel bad about yourself because of it. This feeling is called 'self-stigma', and it can be hard to deal with. This study is exploring a new way to help young people (aged 16 to 29) manage these feelings. It's called Narrative Enhancement and Cognitive Therapy for Youth, or NECT-Y for short. This therapy aims to help you understand your story and change unhelpful thoughts about your mental health.

This isn't a full-scale study yet; it's a 'pilot' study. That means the researchers first want to check if it's possible and practical to run a bigger study in the future. They want to see how easy it is to find enough young people to take part, if people stay in the study, and if the therapists can deliver the NECT-Y sessions correctly. They also want to know if young people find NECT-Y acceptable and useful.

Participants in the study will either take part in the NECT-Y group therapy sessions online for 14 weeks, or they will continue with the support they normally receive for their mental health. By doing this, the researchers can compare the two approaches. The goal is to see if NECT-Y makes a difference in how young people feel about themselves and their mental health conditions.

Key takeaways

This study tests a new online therapy (NECT-Y) for young people.
It aims to help reduce negative feelings about having a mental health condition (self-stigma).
It's a pilot study to see if a bigger study is possible and practical.
Participants will either get NECT-Y online or their usual care, and complete questionnaires.
It's for young people aged 16-29 with bipolar disorder or other mental health conditions.

Who may be eligible?

To be part of this study, you need to be aged between 16 and 29 years old. You should have either bipolar disorder or several other ongoing mental health conditions (but not bipolar if you're in this second group). Also, it's important that you sometimes feel negatively about yourself because of your mental health condition. You also need to be able to understand and speak English and feel comfortable signing a consent form saying you agree to take part.

There are some reasons why you might not be able to join. For example, if you've recently (in the last 30 days) been to hospital or A&E because of your mental health, or if you've just started a new type of talking therapy in the past month. The researchers want to make sure the study tests NECT-Y clearly, so they need to avoid other big changes in your treatment.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 16 and 29 years old?
Have you been diagnosed with bipolar disorder OR multiple other mental health conditions?
Do you sometimes feel negatively about yourself because of your mental health condition?
Can you understand and speak English?
Have you not been to hospital or A&E for your mental health in the last 30 days?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you join this study, you'll be put into one of two groups by chance. One group will take part in an online NECT-Y therapy programme. This programme runs for 14 weeks, and you'll be in a group with about 11 other young people. The other group will continue with their usual mental health care and support.

Regardless of which group you're in, you'll be asked to fill out some questionnaires at three different times: once at the start, again after the 14-week period finishes, and a final time a bit later on. These questionnaires will help the researchers understand how you're feeling and if the NECT-Y therapy has made a difference. All the therapy sessions will be done online, so you won't need to travel to a clinic.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study may offer some benefits, such as potentially learning new ways to cope with self-stigma if you receive the NECT-Y therapy. Even if you don't receive NECT-Y, you'll be contributing important information that could help other young people in the future. There are always some potential risks with any study, such as feeling uncomfortable or emotional when answering questions about your mental health. However, the researchers are careful to ensure your safety and well-being. It's important to know that you are free to leave the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your usual medical care.

Locations (1)

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Verified postcode
Toronto, Canada

Common questions

What is 'self-stigma'?

Self-stigma is when you have negative thoughts or feelings about yourself because you have a mental health condition.

What is NECT-Y?

NECT-Y stands for Narrative Enhancement and Cognitive Therapy for Youth. It's a new type of online talking therapy designed for young people.

How long will the study last for me?

The NECT-Y therapy part lasts for 14 weeks. You'll also complete questionnaires at the start, after 14 weeks, and at a follow-up time.

Do I have to go to a clinic?

No, all the NECT-Y therapy sessions will be held online, and the questionnaires can also be completed remotely.

What if I don't want to continue?

You are free to stop participating in the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.