Narrative Enhancement and Cognitive Therapy (NECT) Effectiveness: A Quasi-Experimental Study

OBJECTIVE: Accumulated evidence suggests that approximately one third of people with a serious mental illness (SMI) experience elevated self-stigma. Narrative enhancement and cognitive therapy (NECT) is a structured group-based intervention aimed to reduce self-stigma. The current study aims to examine the effectiveness of NECT. A quasi-experimental design. DESIGN: Baseline and follow-up data were collected and outcomes were compared between 63 persons with SMI who participated in NECT and 56 persons who received treatment as usual. RESULTS: The NECT treatment group showed significant (p < .05) reductions in self-stigma and increases in self-esteem, quality of life, and Hope-Agency scores between pre- and posttreatment assessments, compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The current results provide preliminary support for the use of NECT as an effective treatment to reduce self-stigma and its implications for treatment and practice are discussed.