Pathways to Recovery (PTR): Impact of Peer-Led Group Participation on Mental Health Recovery Outcomes

• Published in: Psychiatric rehabilitation journal 2010, Vol.34 (1), p.42-48
• Main Authors: Fukui, Sadaaki, Davidson, Lori J, Holter, Mark C, Rapp, Charles A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Case Management; Consumer-centered services; Effects; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Group intervention; Group Participation; Group Psychotherapy; Human; Humans; Male; Manuals as Topic; Mental Disorders; Mental Health; Middle Aged; Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care); Peer Group; Peer Relations; Personality Inventory; Personality Inventory - statistics & numerical data; personality test; Psychiatry; psychological aspect; Psychometrics; psychometry; psychosis; Psychotic Disorders; Psychotic Disorders - psychology; Psychotic Disorders - rehabilitation; Recovery; Recovery (Disorders); Self Care; Self Concept; Self esteem; Self-help; Self-Help Groups; Social support; statistics; treatment outcome; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1095-158X; 1559-3126; 1559-3126
• DOI: 10.2975/34.1.2010.42.48

Objective: This study examined the positive effects on recovery outcomes for people with severe and persistent mental illness using peer-led groups based on Pathways to Recovery: A Strengths Recovery Self-Help Workbook (PTR). PTR translates the evidence-supported practice of the Strengths Model into a self-help approach, allowing users to identify and pursue life goals based on personal and environmental strengths. Methods: A single-group pretest-posttest research design was applied. Forty-seven members in 6 consumer-run organizations in one Midwestern state participated in a PTR peer-led group, completing a baseline survey before the group and again at the completion of the 12-week sessions. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Spirituality Index of Well-Being, and the Modified Colorado Symptom Index were employed as recovery outcomes. Paired Hotelling's T-square test was conducted to examine the mean differences of recovery outcomes between the baseline and the completion of the group. Results: Findings revealed statistically significant improvements for PTR participants in self-esteem, self-efficacy, social support, spiritual well-being, and psychiatric symptoms. Conclusions: This initial research is promising for establishing PTR as an important tool for facilitating recovery using a peer-led group format. The provision of peer-led service has been emphasized as critical to integrating consumers' perspectives in recovery-based mental health services. Given the current federal funding stream for peer services, continued research into PTR and other peer-led services becomes more important.