Am J Psychiatry 1988; 145:1248-1253
Copyright © 1988 by American Psychiatric Association

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Zealous self-help groups as adjuncts to psychiatric treatment: a study of Recovery, Inc

M Galanter
Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, NY 10016.

In a controlled study of Recovery, Inc., a self-help program for people with psychiatric problems, the author found a decline in both symptoms and concomitant psychiatric treatment after subjects had joined the group. Scores for neurotic distress reported after joining were considerably lower than those reported for the period before joining. Scores for psychological well-being of longstanding Recovery members were no different from those of community control subjects, and fewer long-term members than recent members were being treated with psychotropic medication and psychotherapy. The author concludes that peer-led self-help groups have value as an adjunct to psychiatric treatment.

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