Recovery in Telling Life Stories

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF AARHUS · Jul 16, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is testing a new program called Recovery In Telling Life Stories (RETELL), designed to help people with serious mental health conditions improve their quality of life. Many individuals with illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, or PTSD may manage their symptoms but still struggle with feeling disconnected, having negative views about themselves, and facing challenges with their sense of identity. RETELL works by guiding participants through sharing and reshaping their personal stories, aiming to strengthen their sense of self and overall well-being. The program involves 8 to 12 sessions, and the study will look at whether this approach is practical and helpful in improving recovery, quality of life, symptoms, and self-confidence.

Adults between 18 and 65 years old who have been diagnosed with one or more of several specific mental health conditions and who are currently not in full recovery may be eligible to join. Participants need to speak Danish, have stable medication for at least two months, and be willing to take part in the sessions and assessments. The study excludes those with recent hospital stays, active severe symptoms that could interfere with participation, recent therapy starts, or other serious issues like homelessness. If you join, you can expect to take part in one-on-one sessions focusing on your life story and recovery, complete some questionnaires, and have follow-ups to see how you’re doing over time. This research is important because it could lead to new ways to support people living with severe mental illness beyond just managing symptoms.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Adults between the ages of 18 and 65 years
• • A self-reported principal diagnosis of one or more of the following: schizophrenia (F20), bipolar disorder (F31), personality disorders (F60), obsessive-compulsive disorder (F42), anxiety disorders (F41), recurrent depressive disorder (F33), eating disorders (F50), hyperkinetic disorders (F90), post-traumatic stress disorder (F43.1), Asperger syndrome (F84.5)
• • Not in full recovery (Brief INSPIRE-O \< 50)
• • Danish language proficiency
• • Medication stabilized (i.e., same type and dosage for a minimum of 8 weeks)
• • Ability and willingness to give informed consent
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Self-reported diagnosis of mental retardation (F70-79) and/or organic mental disorder (F00-09)
• • Psychiatric symptoms, thoughts of self-harm and/or substance abuse of self-reported severity which are likely to prevent one or all of the following: attendance at scheduled sessions, completion of questionnaires before, during and after the intervention, meaningful engagement in the therapeutic process
• • Psychiatric hospitalization in the past 4 weeks
• • Prior conviction of violent crime
• • Currently homeless
• • Currently in psychotherapy initiated within the past 6 months.