title: Economic aspects of peer support groups for psychosis.
abstract: Peer support groups are rarely available for patients with psychosis, despite potential clinical and economic advantages of such groups. In this study, 106 patients with psychosis were randomly allocated to minimally guided peer support in addition to care as usual (CAU), or CAU only. No relevant differences between mean total costs of both groups were found, nor were there significant differences in WHOQoL-Bref outcomes. Intervention adherence had a substantial impact on the results. It was concluded that minimally guided peer support groups for psychosis do not seem to affect overall healthcare expenses. Positive results of additional outcomes, including a significant increase in social contacts and esteem support, favour the wider implementation of such groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. a.d.stant@epi.umcg.nl
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Stant
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Castelein
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bruggeman
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: van Busschbach
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van der Gaag
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Knegtering
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wiersma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010379:Peer Group; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000191:economics*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult