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Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Peer-Administered Psychosocial Interventions on Symptoms of Depression

  • Empirical Review
  • Published:
American Journal of Community Psychology

Abstract

Many community mental health centers have implemented peer treatment models that employ recovered former clients as cost-efficient adjunct providers. The effectiveness of these and other peer-administered interventions (PAIs) for treating depression symptoms has not been well-established. The current study is a meta-analysis of PAIs’ effects on depression symptoms. Twenty-three eligible studies were identified. Study characteristics were coded by multiple raters, random-effects models were used to compare mean effect sizes, and mixed-effects models were used to test for moderation. PAIs produced significant pre-post reductions in depression symptoms (d = .5043 [95 % CI .3675–.6412]). In direct comparisons, PAIs performed as well as non-peer-administered interventions (.0848 [−.1455–.3151]), and significantly better than no-treatment conditions (.2011 [.0104–.3918]). PAIs that involved a professional in a secondary treatment role were significantly less effective than those that were purely peer-administered, and educational/skills-based PAIs produced better outcomes than those that were mainly supportive. Follow-up data, when available, indicated that PAIs’ benefits were maintained. PAIs reduce depression symptoms and warrant further study. The clinical significance of PAIs’ benefits, and whether they are better suited as stand-alone or adjunct treatments, remain to be established. Implications for the roles of mental health professionals are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Karlee Frye, Joseph Santa Cruz, and Sean Gallagher for their assistance with coding studies, as well as John Allen, Richard Bootzin, and David Sbarra for their helpful input on the development of this project.

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  1. Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, University of Washington, 1107 NE 45th St., Suite 120, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA

    Amanda E. B. Bryan

  2. Psychology Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Hal Arkowitz

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Bryan, A.E.B., Arkowitz, H. Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Peer-Administered Psychosocial Interventions on Symptoms of Depression. Am J Community Psychol 55, 455–471 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-015-9718-y

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