Constructing and Preliminary Testing a Narrative Therapy Programme for Posttraumatic Growth in Chinese Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease—A Pilot Study

ABSTRACT Background The research on posttraumatic growth (PTG) promotion programmes, particularly narrative therapy (NT), for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains limited. This pilot study aims to develop an NT programme to promote PTG and evaluate its feasibility, preliminary effectiveness, participants' experiences and improvement suggestions. Methods The NT programme was initially developed through literature review, interviews with IBD patients and expert panel discussions. A randomized controlled pilot trial was conducted to assess the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of the programme. Participants in the NT group received five consecutive weekly sessions of the programme, while the control group received standard care. Outcomes including PTG, anxiety, depression and quality of life were measured. Qualitative interviews were conducted to explore participants' experiences and suggestions for programme modifications. Results The NT programme was developed with scientific rigour. The recruitment rate and retention rate were 62.5% and 96.7%, respectively. A significant reduction in anxiety levels was observed, and manifestations of PTG were reported in the NT group. Suggestions for improvement of the NT programme were received from the participants. Conclusion The NT programme was constructed to promote PTG in IBD patients in this study, further offering preliminary evidence for its feasibility and potential positive psychological change. However, large‐scale research is needed to validate its effectiveness for broader applications.