Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:47:21 BST CiteULike: Tag mutual_support http://www.citeulike.org/tag/mutual_support CiteULike.org en-gb Copyright © 2004-2008 citeulike.org http://www.citeulike.org/user/craigtalbert/article/1028688 <i>Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, Vol. 6, No. 2. (1999), pp. 165-187.</i><br /><br />This article reviews the history and potential effectiveness of peer support among persons with severe mental illness. Following a historical overview, we describe the three primary forms of peer support that have been developed to date by and for this population, and examine the existing empirical evidence of the feasibility, effectiveness, and utilization of each of these approaches in contributing to the recovery of individuals with psychiatric disabilities. These three forms are (1) naturally occurring mutual support groups, (2) consumer-run services, and (3) the employment of consumers as providers within clinical and rehabilitative settings. Existing studies of mutual support groups suggest that they may improve symptoms, promote larger social networks, and enhance quality of life. This research is largely from uncontrolled studies, however, and will need to be evaluated further using prospective, controlled designs. Consumer-run services and the use of consumers as providers promise to broaden the access of individuals with psychiatric disabilities to peer support, but research on these more recent developments is only preliminary and largely limited to demonstrations of their feasibility. We discuss issues entailed in participating in peer support for this population, and then close with a discussion of the implications for future policy, research, and practice. Peer Support Among Individuals With Severe Mental Illness: A Review of the Evidence Larry Davidson Matthew Chinman Bret Kloos Richard Weingarten David Stayner Jacob Tebes doi:10.1093/clipsy.6.2.165 Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, Vol. 6, No. 2. (1999), pp. 165-187. 2007-01-07T02:07:29-00:00 1999 Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice 6 2 165 187 consumer-run_services consumers_as_providers ea effectiveness mutual_support peer_support sa schizophrenics self-help http://www.citeulike.org/user/craigtalbert/article/2949799 <i>American journal of community psychology, Vol. 28, No. 3. (June 2000), pp. 303-324.</i><br /><br />This study explored the roles of referent power (i.e., influence based on sense of identification) and expert power (i.e., influence based on knowledge and expertise) in Schizophrenics Anonymous (SA), a mutual-help group for persons experiencing a schizophrenia-related illness. The study describes SA participants' experience of referent and expert power with SA members, SA leaders, and with mental health professionals. It also examines whether or not referent and expert power ascribed to fellow SA participants predicts the perceived helpfulness of the group. One hundred fifty-six SA participants were surveyed. Participants reported experiencing higher levels of referent power with fellow SA members and leaders than with mental health professionals. They reported higher levels of expert power for mental health professionals and SA leaders than for SA members. The respondents' ratings of their SA group's helpfulness was significantly correlated with ratings of referent and expert power. Although expert power was the best independent predictor of helpfulness, a significant interaction between referent and expert power indicated that when members reported high referent power, expert power was not related to helpfulness. These results are interpreted to suggest that there are multiple forms of social influence at work in mutual help. The role of referent and expert power in mutual help. DA Salem TM Reischl F Gallacher KW Randall American journal of community psychology, Vol. 28, No. 3. (June 2000), pp. 303-324. 2008-07-02T03:12:59-00:00 2000 American journal of community psychology 0091-0562 28 3 303 324 expert_power mental_health mutual-aid mutual-help mutual_support referent_power sa schizophrenia schizophrenics self-help social_power