Encouraging People With Mood Disorders to Attend a Self‐Help Group¹

Abstract

Using an intervention based on referent power, self‐help sponsors sought to encourage attendance at self‐help meetings. They encouraged patients with major depression or bipolar disorder to attend self‐help meetings following their hospitalizations. The intervention successfully increased the attendance of the experimental group compared to those in the control group. Implications for practice are discussed.

Self-Help Groups and Mental Health/Substance Use Agencies: The Benefits of Organizational Exchange

“…To make better use of the recovery-enhancing potential of self-help groups, a number of intensive procedures have been developed to link clients with these groups. Various controlled studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of procedures, using seasoned members of self-help groups to introduce prospective member/clients to the group (Powell, Hill, Warner, Yeaton, and Silk, 2000;Timko, Debenedetti, and Billow, 2006).…”

Mutual Help Groups for Mental Health Problems: A Review of Effectiveness Studies

“…The experimental condition involved providing a "sponsor" (an experienced group member) to introduce participants to the group. An intent-to-treat analysis Mutual help groups, p.14 showed that the intervention increased the likelihood of group attendance nearly three-fold (Powell et al, 2000). At one-year follow-up, the team evaluated impact on two outcomes: Daily functioning and management of illness.…”

“…Powell and colleagues (Powell, Hill, Warner, & Yeaton, 2000;Powell, Yeaton, Hill, & Silk, 2001) used a "partially randomized" design (the study began with a quasi-experimental design and later became fully randomized) to study self-help groups for adults hospitalized for unipolar or bipolar depression. The experimental condition involved providing a "sponsor" (an experienced group member) to introduce participants to the group.…”

Subutex treatment in Sweden–an initial description

“…The problem with the more effective referral practice of course is that the clinician cannot remain neutral with respect to alternative groups and their ideologies. Having personal contact with a group member also increased the client's likelihood of attending mutual-help groups for serious psychiatric disorders (Powell et al 2000).…”