title: Peers and peer-led interventions for people with schizophrenia.
abstract: This article provides a snapshot of the nature, guiding philosophy, and empiric status of interventions for people with schizophrenia that go beyond traditional psychopharmacological and psychosocial treatments to include peer-led interventions. The authors discuss the nature and principles of peer-led interventions for people with schizophrenia and the types of peer-led interventions along with evidence of their effectiveness in fostering the recovery of people with schizophrenia and other severe mental illnesses. Focus is on 3 types of peer-led interventions: (1) mutual support/self-help, (2) consumer-operated services, and (3) peer support services.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Georgia Health Sciences University, 997 Saint Sebastian Way, Augusta, GA 30912, USA. aahmed@georgiahealth.edu
authors.forename: Anthony O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Nancy J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Doane
authors.forename: P Alex
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Mabe
authors.forename: Peter F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Birgenheir
authors.forename: Nada M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Goodrum
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D010379:Peer Group; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012944:Social Support; D016896:Treatment Outcome