Effectiveness of Autobiographical Rewriting Workshops on the Socio-Professional Functioning of Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder Undergoing Third-Wave Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Autobiographical Rewriting Workshops, Non-specific writing workshops.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Borderline Personality Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Basic parameters: 18 years — 45 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
This study evaluates the effectiveness of autobiographical rewriting workshops combined with third-wave Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in improving social and professional functioning in individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). BPD affects approximately 2 to 6% of the general population and is frequently associated with suicidal behaviors, unstable relationships, and low self-esteem. This disorder is often linked to early traumatic experiences that impact autobiographical memory and self-perception. While Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a standard treatment for BPD, it does not fully address all the needs of patients. The aim of this study is to determine whether autobiographical rewriting, which allows individuals to restructure and reinterpret their memories in a more resilient way, can improve autobiographical memory, self-esteem, and reduce emotional symptoms. Participants will be randomized into two groups: one group will undergo autobiographical rewriting workshops in addition to third-wave CBT sessions, while the other group will participate in non-specific writing sessions also in addition to third-wave CBT sessions. The study will compare the two groups to evaluate the effectiveness of autobiographical rewriting workshops in enhancing social and professional well-being. Expected outcomes include improvements in interpersonal relationships, greater professional stability, and a reduction in emotional symptoms assessed immediately post-intervention, then 3 months and 6 months after. This study may offer a complementary therapeutic approach to existing treatments, helping patients manage their symptoms more effectively and improve their quality of life.
Interventions
- Behavioral Autobiographical Rewriting Workshops
10 two-hour autobiographical rewriting workshop sessions, held weekly. This program encourages participants to explore their own history in a way that fosters narrative resilience, highlighting their ability to overcome challenges, transform failures into learning opportunities, express themselves creatively, reexamine their memories, and rebuild a more positive sense of identity that better aligns with the needs of accurate self-recognition of their potential. This program is particularly inspi - Behavioral Non-specific writing workshops
10 sessions of 2 hours of non-specific writing, held weekly. To increase the active role of the participants, they will be encouraged to write on the theme of the session during the time between sessions. The writing themes are non-specific, unlike the intervention group, and include topics such as poetry, historical events, nature reports, imaginary interviews, children's stories, etc.
Primary outcome measures
- Improvement in Social Functioning [Time frame: immediate post-intervention]
Secondary outcome measures (12)
- Autobiographical Memory [Time frame: immediate post-intervention]
- Autobiographical Memory [Time frame: 3 months post-intervention]
- Improvement in Social Functioning [Time frame: 3 months post-intervention]
- Improvement in Social Functioning [Time frame: 6 months post-intervention]
- Autobiographical Memory [Time frame: 6 months post-intervention]
- Borderline Symptom Severity [Time frame: immediate post-intervention]
- Borderline Symptom Severity [Time frame: 3 months post-intervention]
- Borderline Symptom Severity [Time frame: 6 months post-intervention]
- Self-Concept Clarity [Time frame: immediate post-intervention]
- Self-Concept Clarity [Time frame: 3 months post-intervention]
- Self-Concept Clarity [Time frame: 6 months post-intervention]
- Self-Defining Future Projections [Time frame: immediate post-intervention]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Subjects with borderline personality disorder (assessed by SCID-2),
- Subjects aged between 18 and 45 years (inclusive).
Exclusion criteria
- Psychotic disorder (assessed by SCID),
- Subjects deprived of their liberty (by judicial or administrative decision, or involuntary hospitalization),
- Subjects under legal protection (guardianship, curatorship, or judicial protection),
- Subjects not affiliated with a social security,
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women,
- Inability to understand the nature, purpose, and methodology of the study,
- Inability to understand, speak, or write French,
- Failure to provide informed oral consent to participate in the study.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07199166 · RECHMPL24_0016