Effectiveness of narrative therapy for depressive symptoms in adults with somatic disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

BackgroundDepression is a common mental health condition and a main risk factor for suicide. Narrative therapy aims to reframe beliefs through storytelling. Despite evidence of effectiveness, there is a lack of evaluation for specific adult populations. This meta-analysis evaluated the effect of narrative therapy on depressive symptoms in adults with somatic disorders. Only 2 of the included studies examined patients with depression, highlighting the need for further research on this specific population. MethodsA comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science (all databases), the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, CNKI, and CBMdisc was conducted in April 2024. Study selection and data extraction were conducted by two researchers independently. The Cochrane tool and GRADEPro GDT tool were utilised to determine risk of bias and methodological quality of included studies. Stata17.0 was used for statistical analysis. ResultsThe results showed that narrative therapy had a significant effect on depressive symptoms in adults with somatic disorders (SMD=-1.64; 95% CI, -1.95 to -1.32; p<.001; 4,879 participants; low-quality evidence). Sensitivity analysis showed that the results were robust and reliable. DiscussionThis meta-analysis found that narrative therapy appears to have a significant effect on depressive symptoms in adults with somatic disorders. However, the study is limited by a predominance of Chinese studies and low quality of evidence. Future research is needed to confirm these findings.