Abstract
Objective: Narrative interventions show promise in reducing trauma symptoms, self-stigma, and depression. However, a systematic review of various narrative approaches for a broad range of mental health conditions is missing. This study explores the characteristics, effectiveness, and experiences of participants and counselors in existing narrative interventions for people with mental disorders, including personality disorders.
Method: This mixed-methods systematic review searched PsychINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Ovid Embase, including forward and backward citations, for studies published up to December 22, 2023. Included were peer-reviewed, empirical research articles (quantitative and qualitative), written in English, about life stories or self-defining memories, and targeting people with psychopathology. Excluded were interventions focusing solely on mental flourishing, cognition, autobiographical memories, children, and people with dementia. Two researchers independently selected studies and assessed evidence quality using the Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool. Metasynthesis integrated quantitative effects and qualitative evaluations by participants and counselors. This study is registered on PROSPERO (2024 CRD42024526703).
Results: Of 1451 records identified, 36 studies met the inclusion criteria, all with low to moderate overall bias. Most studies were published between 2004 and 2024, mainly in the last decade, and focused on various mental disorders. Interventions were categorized into four types: Narrative Exposure Therapy (14 studies), Narrative Enhancement and Cognitive Therapy (5 studies), Reminiscence therapies (8 studies), and other narrative interventions (9 studies). Interventions targeted individuals and groups, consisting of 1–20 sessions. Symptoms related to trauma, depression, anxiety, and self-stigma were consistently reduced, while positive mental health aspects were less frequently assessed. Qualitative synthesis revealed three themes: appreciation of interventions, changes in identity, and changes in recovery. There was minimal overlap between quantitative and qualitative outcomes; aspects of high interest to participants were often not reflected in outcome measurements.
Conclusion: Narrative interventions offer a promising and innovative approach to treating mental disorders, effectively improving psychopathological symptoms with small to large effect sizes. Positive and process-related outcomes were less frequently measured and varied in significance. Future studies should consistently assess positive outcomes like identity, recovery, meaning in life, self-esteem, hope, and quality of life, alongside psychopathological outcomes, to provide broader evidence of narrative interventions’ effectiveness.
Method: This mixed-methods systematic review searched PsychINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Ovid Embase, including forward and backward citations, for studies published up to December 22, 2023. Included were peer-reviewed, empirical research articles (quantitative and qualitative), written in English, about life stories or self-defining memories, and targeting people with psychopathology. Excluded were interventions focusing solely on mental flourishing, cognition, autobiographical memories, children, and people with dementia. Two researchers independently selected studies and assessed evidence quality using the Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool. Metasynthesis integrated quantitative effects and qualitative evaluations by participants and counselors. This study is registered on PROSPERO (2024 CRD42024526703).
Results: Of 1451 records identified, 36 studies met the inclusion criteria, all with low to moderate overall bias. Most studies were published between 2004 and 2024, mainly in the last decade, and focused on various mental disorders. Interventions were categorized into four types: Narrative Exposure Therapy (14 studies), Narrative Enhancement and Cognitive Therapy (5 studies), Reminiscence therapies (8 studies), and other narrative interventions (9 studies). Interventions targeted individuals and groups, consisting of 1–20 sessions. Symptoms related to trauma, depression, anxiety, and self-stigma were consistently reduced, while positive mental health aspects were less frequently assessed. Qualitative synthesis revealed three themes: appreciation of interventions, changes in identity, and changes in recovery. There was minimal overlap between quantitative and qualitative outcomes; aspects of high interest to participants were often not reflected in outcome measurements.
Conclusion: Narrative interventions offer a promising and innovative approach to treating mental disorders, effectively improving psychopathological symptoms with small to large effect sizes. Positive and process-related outcomes were less frequently measured and varied in significance. Future studies should consistently assess positive outcomes like identity, recovery, meaning in life, self-esteem, hope, and quality of life, alongside psychopathological outcomes, to provide broader evidence of narrative interventions’ effectiveness.
| Original language | English |
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| Article number | 5023850 |
| Number of pages | 24 |
| Journal | International Journal of Clinical Practice |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print/First online - 28 Dec 2025 |