A few examples from PsychInfo

Creating a supportive environment: Peer support groups for psychotic disorders.

doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbv113

By Castelein, Stynke; Bruggeman, Richard; Davidson, Larry; van der Gaag, Mark

Schizophrenia Bulletin, Vol 41(6), Nov 2015, 1211-1213.

People with psychotic disorders frequently experience significant mental and social limitations that may result in persisting social isolation. Research has shown that a supportive social environment is crucial for the process of personal recovery. Peer support groups can provide an opportunity to reduce isolation and enhance the process of personal recovery. It encourages people to express their thoughts, feelings, and personal concerns in a peer-to-peer learning environment. Although the importance of peer support groups for various chronic diseases is widely acknowledged, they do not generally form part of routine care for people with psychotic disorders. The evidence base is promising, but the field could benefit from more rigorous, pragmatic trials with follow-up measurements to establish a solid evidence-base. This article briefly reviews the literature and discusses the barriers to implementation of a peer-support learning environment in routine care, as well as ways to overcome these. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Veterans’ perspectives on benefits and drawbacks of peer support for posttraumatic stress disorder.

doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7205/MILMED-D-14-00536

By Hundt, Natalie E.; Robinson, Andrew; Arney, Jennifer; Stanley, Melinda A.; Cully, Jeffrey A.

Military Medicine, Vol 180(8), Aug 2015, 851-856.

Peer support has been increasingly utilized within the Department of Veterans Affairs and offers an opportunity to augment existing care for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The current study sought to examine Veterans’ perspectives on the potential benefits and drawbacks of peer support for PTSD. A sample of 23 Veterans with substantial treatment experience completed one-time qualitative interviews that were transcribed and coded for thematic content using grounded theory methodology. Results indicated that Veterans identified numerous potential benefits to a peer support program, including social support, purpose and meaning, normalization of symptoms and hope, and therapeutic benefits. Veterans also identified ways that peer support could complement psychotherapy for PTSD by increasing initiation and adherence to treatment and supporting continued use of skills after termination. Results also indicated that Veterans may prefer peer support groups that are separated according to trauma type, gender, and era of service. Other findings highlighted the importance of the leadership and interpersonal skills of a peer support group leader. Overall, Veterans found peer support to be a highly acceptable complement to existing PTSD treatments with few drawbacks. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Brief online surveys to monitor and evaluate facilitated peer support groups for caregivers of children with special needs.

doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2014.12.019

By Wynter, Karen; Hammarberg, Karin; Sartore, Gina-Maree; Cann, Warren; Fisher, Jane

Evaluation and Program Planning, Vol 49, Apr 2015, 70-75.

Background: There have been few systematic evaluations of experiences of participating in peer support groups for parents and other caregivers of children with special needs. In Australia, facilitated groups are available to caregivers in community settings, through a nationally funded program, MyTime. Mechanisms for ongoing monitoring and evaluation have not yet been instituted. Aim: To establish whether brief, online surveys can be used for monitoring and evaluating peer support groups for caregivers of children with special needs. Methods: Two brief, online surveys, with both fixed-choice and open-ended questions, were developed. All caregivers who attended any MyTime group during a 1-month period were invited to participate. Results: Of 89 caregivers who expressed interest in participating, 54 and 31 respondents completed respectively. Respondents represented a variety of backgrounds and circumstances. Responses revealed both positive and negative aspects of group participation. Linked data on expectations and experiences provided important feedback for the program. Conclusion: Brief, online surveys are a suitable mechanism for ongoing monitoring and evaluation of peer support group programs for caregivers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Peer-to-peer support for PTSD in combat veterans.

By Schorr, Bobbie Jean

Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering, Vol 76(9-B(E)), 2016, No Pagination Specified.

This study includes a comprehensive summary of articles evaluating the need for alternative forms of treatment for combat veterans suffering from PTSD and how their PTSD impacts their relationships with loved ones. Evaluated is the prevalence of aggression, substance abuse and suicide among combat veterans. Included are the most common forms of treatment currently being used and the barriers to the use of these current forms of treatment with combat veterans with PTSD. Information provided in the literature review helped to provide support for the need to find adequate treatment modalities for this population as well as confirm the fact that support from peers is the form of support that combat veterans are most likely to seek. In this qualitative study, phenomenological reduction was used in order to gain an understanding of the lived experience of peer-to-peer support groups for combat veteran's and how their involvement in peer-to-peer support can improve their relationships with loved ones. This study revealed not only information on how to improve existing peer-to-peer support groups but participants also provided feedback on what they needed in order to improve their relationships with friends and family. The results of the research study revealed five essential themes that will be presented for consideration: (a) The experience of peer-to-peer support for combat veterans provides normalization of their combat experiences; (b) Matching peer-to-peer support groups according to combat experience and branch of service is essential; (c) Peer-to-peer support helps with transition from military to civilian life; (d) Measures have to be taken to create safe, structured peer-to-peer support groups; (e) Feeling misunderstood by others. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Hearing voices peer support groups: A powerful alternative for people in distress.

doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17522439.2013.843020

By Dillon, Jacqui; Hornstein, Gail A.

Psychosis: Psychological, Social and Integrative Approaches, Vol 5(3), Oct 2013, 286-295.

Hearing voices peer support groups offer a powerful alternative to mainstream psychiatric approaches for understanding and coping with states typically diagnosed as "hallucination." In this jointly authored first-person account, we distill what we have learned from 10 years of facilitating and training others to facilitate these groups and what enables them to work most effectively in the long term. Having witnessed the transformative power of these groups for people long considered unreachable as well as for those who receive some benefit from standard psychiatric treatment, we describe effects that cannot easily be quantified or studied within traditional research paradigms. We explain the structure and function of hearing voices peer support groups and the importance of training facilitators to acquire the skills necessary to ensure that groups operate safely, democratically, and in keeping with the theories and principles of the Hearing Voices Network. The greater use of first-person experience as evidence in deciding what works or does not work for people in extreme distress is advocated; randomized designs or statistically significant findings cannot constitute the only bases for clinical evaluations (Elisabeth Svanholmer, in Romme et al. 2009, p. 151). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)