Augmenting Ongoing Depression Care With a Mutual Peer Support Intervention Versus Self-Help Materials Alone: A Randomized Trial
Open accessAbstract
OBJECTIVE: Various models of peer support may be implemented in mental health settings. This randomized trial assessed the effectiveness of a telephone-delivered mutual peer support intervention. METHODS: A total of 443 patients receiving ongoing depression treatment from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs were enrolled in either enhanced usual care (N=243) or the peer support intervention (N=200). Intent-to-treat analyses assessed outcomes at six months postenrollment, excluding 56 patients who experienced an unplanned telephone platform shutdown. RESULTS: At baseline, patients had substantial depressive symptoms, functional limitations, and low quality of life. Both groups showed significant clinical improvements at six months, with no significant differences by group. CONCLUSIONS: Telephone-delivered mutual peer support for patients with depression did not improve outcomes beyond those observed with enhanced usual care. Other peer support models, with more "professionalized" peers delivering a structured curriculum, may be more effective.
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An initial meta-analysis of peer support for depression was positive, but subsequent results are mixed.
“An initial meta-analysis of peer support for depression was positive, but subsequent results are mixed.[134][135][136]”
From Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) 2016 Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Adults with Major Depressive Disorder (2016) · cites this paper as [136]
The paper’s discussion of prior evidence (page unavailable) says findings for peer-support interventions have been mixed, and its Results report no significant difference between its intervention and comparison groups. Its References list a meta-analysis of peer support for depression, but the available text does not say that the meta-analysis was positive. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredLevel 2 Evidence supports peer interventions as a second-line adjunctive treatment for MDD.
“peer interventions are recommended as a second-line adjunctive treatment for MDD (Level 2 Evidence).”
From Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) 2016 Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Adults with Major Depressive Disorder (2016) · cites this paper as [136]
The Methods describe testing peer support alongside ongoing depression treatment, so the paper supports its use as an adjunct in the trial. But the Results and Conclusions report no benefit over enhanced usual care; they do not recommend peer interventions as second-line treatment or assign a Level 2 evidence rating. The authors say other peer-support models might be more effective. (LLM, conf=0.84)
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- Authors
- Valenstein, M., Pfeiffer, P. N., Brandfon, S., Walters, H., Ganoczy, D., Kim, H. M., Cohen, J. L., Benn-Burton, W., Carroll, E., Henry, J., Garcia, E., Risk, B., Kales, H. C., Piette, J. D., & Heisler, M.
- Affiliations
- United States Department of Veterans Affairs (US)
- University of Michigan (US)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Psychiatric Services
- Published
- 2016-02-01
- Volume
- 67
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 236-239
- ISSN
- 0022-1597 (ISSN-L)
- 1075-2730
- 1557-9700
- PMC
- PMC5180417
- OpenAlex
- W1918813441
- Cited by
- 25
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 4
- FWCI
- 4.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Psychiatric Services (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (CDA 10-036)
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (P30DK092926)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mental Health and Patient Involvement
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Keywords
- depression, telephone-delivered intervention, peer support programs, self-help materials, veterans, enhanced usual care, quality of life, functional limitations
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Antidepressive Agents, Counseling, Depression, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Peer Group, Psychotherapy, Self Care, Social Support, Telephone, United States, United States Department of Veterans Affairs
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