Effectiveness of Family- and Individual-Led Peer Support for People With Serious Mental Illness: A Meta-Analysis

Peer support has received increasing attention in the field of mental rehabilitation for serious mental illness (SMI), but meta-analyses are rare, especially in terms of family-led peer support. The current meta-analysis was conducted using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Medline databases, and manual retrieval was performed. Randomized controlled trials of peer support interventions were included. Subgroup meta-analyses were performed separately for family-led and individual-led peer support. A total of 28 articles (five on family-led peer support and 23 on individual-led peer support) were included. For family-led peer support, there were no significant differences between intervention and control groups in family functioning or burden, and there seemed to be positive effects on use of health services, patient functioning, psychotic symptoms, rehospitalization, and duration. Individual-led peer support may have positive effects on well-being, medication adherence, finances, and loneliness; however, it seemed to be less effective in terms of self-efficacy, quality of life, recovery, hope, and activation. There were no significant differences between peer support groups and control groups in social support, functioning, psychotic symptom improvement, self-esteem, alcohol use, drug use, legal charges, building relationships, empowerment, satisfaction, and use of health care. Peer support, whether it is individual-led or family-led, can be further developed for rehabilitation of individuals with SMI. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 60(2), 20-26.].