Peer-based Recovery Program

Effectiveness of a Peer-based Recovery Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Recovery-oriented services are currently the mainstream in the field of mental health around the world. Peer services are an alternative service option promoted by recovery advocates. Western countries have invested abundant resources in promoting peer services and providing training for peer support workers. However, peer services in Taiwan have just started. More resources need to be added to make mental health services catch up with the world trend so that people with mental illness in Taiwan can have more choices. Hence, this study aims to investigate the effectiveness of the Grow to Recovery program-Short Version co-led by a peer.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Mental Disorder; Recovery, Psychological
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: The Grow to Recovery program-Short Version

Detailed Description

The study will verify the effectiveness of the Grow to Recovery program-Short Version co-led by a peer. Based on the results of the feasibility study, an online leader training course will be established. Peer leaders and professional leaders will be recruited to receive the training and colead the Grow to Recovery program-Short Version. A total of 120 people with mental illness will be recruited and randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the control group. The pre- and post-tests as well as follow-up data collected from participants will be used to establish the effectiveness.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 138
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Yen-Ching Chang, PhD; Phone Number: +886-6-2353535 Ext. 5904; Email: ychang@mail.ncku.edu.tw

Study Locations

• Taiwan
  • Tainan, Taiwan, 70101
    • National Cheng Kung University Hospital
    • Contact: Yen-Ching Chang; Phone Number: +886 988202078; Email: ychang@mail.ncku.edu.tw

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Professionals:

  1. working in the community psychiatric rehabilitation organizations
  2. being willing to co-lead the recovery program with a peer

• Peers:

  1. having a diagnosis of mental illness over 1 year
  2. living in the community
  3. being age 18 yr or older
  4. having good communication skills
  5. being willing to co-lead the recovery program with a professional

• People with mental illness

  1. having a diagnosis of mental illness over 1 year
  2. living in the community and receiving psychiatric rehabilitation services
  3. being age 18 yr or older
  4. filling out the scales independently
  5. being able to participate in a recovery group and follow the group rules

Exclusion Criteria:

• People with mental illness 1. attending another recovery-related group

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: The Grow to Recovery program-Short Version; Participants will receive the Grow to Recovery program -Short Version, co-led by one trained peer and one trained professional.	Behavioral: The Grow to Recovery program-Short Version; The program is based on "Pathways to Recovery: A Strengths Recovery Self-help Workbook." After completing the online leader training program, one peer and one professional will conduct a 10-week Grow to Recovery program-Short Version for people with mental illness. This program covers recovery concepts, strengths, and goal setting, which will be helpful for people in recovery.
No Intervention: Control group; Participants in the control group receive treatment as usual.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Stages of Recovery Scale, SRS	The Stages of Recovery Scale (SRS) consists of 45 items, with six subscales: the sense of hope, disability management/taking responsibility, regaining autonomy, social functioning/role performance, overall well-being, and willingness to help. A higher score means better recovery status.	Changes from Baseline at 10 weeks and 34 weeks.
Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey, MOS-SS	The Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SS) is a multidimensional, self-administered instrument that addresses all five functions of an interpersonal relationship to assess the various functional dimensions of social support, including emotional , informational, tangible, affectionate, and positive interaction. A higher score means better social support.	Changes from Baseline at 10 weeks and 34 weeks.
Social Functioning Scale, SFS	The Social Functioning Scale (SFS) has 36 items. A higher score means better social functioning.	Changes from Baseline at 10 weeks and 34 weeks.
Perceived Psychiatric Stigma Scale, PPSS	The Perceived Psychiatric Stigma Scale (PPSS) measures self-stigma and has 25 items. A higher score means more severe stigma.	Changes from Baseline at 10 weeks and 34 weeks.
General Self-Efficacy Scale, GSES	The General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) contains 10 items. The GSES is rated on a four-point Likert scale, with total scores ranging from 10 to 40. A higher score means better self-efficacy.	Changes from Baseline at 10 weeks and 34 weeks.
The Hope Scale, THS	The Hope Scale (THS) measures the level of sense of hope. The scale consists of 12 items, including four agency items, four pathway items, and four distracters. The THS is rated on an eight-point Likert scale, with total scores ranging from 8 to 64. A higher score means a higher sense of hope.	Changes from Baseline at 10 weeks and 34 weeks.
Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire, TDQ	The Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire (TDQ) consists of 18 items and measures depressive conditions. The TDQ is rated on a four-point Likert scale, with total scores ranging from 0 to 54. A higher score means a more depressed mood.	Changes from Baseline at 10 weeks and 34 weeks.

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Course questionnaire	The course questionnaire aims to collect course feedback from participants. The questionnaire includes a course-satisfactory survey and open questions. A higher score means higher satisfaction.	Changes from Baseline at the 10th week.
Qualitative data	The discussion about course feedback in the 10th class will be recorded and transcribed.	at the end of the intervention (the 10th week).
Qualitative data	The researchers will conduct focus groups with peer and professional leaders of the intervention group after completing the Grow to Recovery program-Short Version. Those qualitative data will be recorded, transcribed, and analyzed.	Immediately after the intervention
Qualitative interview	Around 16 participants of the intervention group will have an interview after 6 months (the 34th week). The data will be recorded, transcribed, and analyzed.	at the 34th week

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Cheng-Kung University Hospital
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Yen-Ching Chang, PhD, National Cheng Kung University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): January 5, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2030
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2030

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 25, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 1, 2025
• First Posted (Estimated): December 3, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 12, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 4, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: recovery program; peer
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: B-ER-114-100

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No