Effectiveness of the Veteran X peer-led mental health recovery program: A quasi-experimental study.

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Authors

Shaw, David B.
Magnes, N. Sarah
Pratt, Thomas E.
Wetzler, Elizabeth

Issue Date

2021

Type

journal-article

Language

en_US

Keywords

Research Projects

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Abstract

Objective: The inclusion of peer-delivered services in organizations providing behavioral health care has significantly increased in recent years, and substantial resources are being directed toward implementing recovery-oriented mental health services using peer-provided programs. Previous research found that participants in such programs have improved recovery outcomes. While there are demonstrated positive associations between recovery outcomes and peer-provided services, there is limited research on the effectiveness of specific peer-provided interventions. Veteran X is a peer-led program developed in the Department of Veterans Affairs in which participants serve as a recovery team for a fictitious Veteran who faces numerous social and mental health issues. This study compared the effectiveness of the Veteran X program with treatment as usual on measures of recovery wellbeing, symptoms and functioning, and risk and protective factors for substance use disorders. Methods: Participants were recruited (N = 80) over a period of ten months, and had self-selected into treatment as usual (TAU, N = 37), or treatment as usual plus Veteran X (N = 43). Results: No baseline differences were found on the pretest measures. Both groups improved on all measures after 60 days of participation, however Veteran X participants improved significantly more than TAU participants on the measures of recovery wellbeing and symptoms and functioning. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: The results of this study appear to support the positive contribution of the Veteran X program in improving recovery wellbeing and symptoms and functioning among participating veterans. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

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Citation

Shaw, D. B., Magnes, N. S., Pratt, T. E., & Wetzler, E. (2021). Effectiveness of the Veteran X peer-led mental health recovery program: A quasi-experimental study. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/prj0000482

Publisher

Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal

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Volume

Issue

PubMed ID

ISSN

1559-3126
1095-158X

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