LETTERS

3. National Health and Nutrition Examina- process for describing and responding eralized linear model analyses of men- tion Survey. Atlanta, Ga, Centers for Dis- to daily problems. Group members tal health outcome data collected via ease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Available at describe an everyday event that upset standardized instruments used in the www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes.htm. Accessed them, describe their physical reactions interviews indicated that compared Aug 8, 2011 and thoughts, share RI tools (short with those who stopped attending statements participants use to identify meetings, RI attendees experienced a stressful thought or behavior and significantly greater decreases in de- Peer-Led Recovery recognize that they have the power to pressive symptoms and increases in International Groups for choose how they will react) that they confidence in their personal recovery Consumers used to cope with the stressor, and de- and ability to achieve personal goals. scribe how they would have reacted Our results are limited by a small To the Editor: The Recovery Inter- before their RI training. After giving sample that may not be representa- national (RI) method is a peer-led, examples, group members describe tive of all RI groups. In addition, we cognitive-behavioral program that what they actually did, applaud or en- did not assess RI group fidelity. How- teaches mental health care con- dorse themselves for making the effort ever, these results suggest that RI sumers how to identify and monitor to change, and receive feedback from may provide participants with the negative thoughts and behaviors and their peers via RI tools. skills and support they need to cope change the way that they would typi- From February 1, 2008, to January with symptoms and sustain their per- cally respond to daily challenges. The 31, 2011, we conducted a pilot study sonal recovery. premise of RI is that with the help and funded by ALSHS to examine RI pro- The availability and accessibility of support of peers, anyone experiencing gram participation and benefits. A to- peer-led programs are rapidly in- any type of psychiatric symptoms can tal of 126 newcomers—individuals creasing. In an era of shrinking men- learn to overcome self-defeating, ill- who were new to RI and who had at- tal health service dollars, peer-led ness-driven thoughts and reactions tended from one to five meetings—to programs such as RI may provide ad- and replace them with self-enhancing, RI groups nationwide enrolled in the junct recovery-promoting care. More wellness-promoting thoughts and ac- study in response to information rigorous studies are needed to further tions. Created in 1937 by Dr. Abra- packets distributed at meetings by explore potential RI participation ham Low and offered worldwide group leaders. Study participants benefits. since 1952 by Self- completed four telephone interviews Susan A. Pickett, Ph.D. Help Systems (ALSHS), RI is one of that assessed their RI attendance, Heather Phillips, M.A. the largest peer-led programs for per- psychiatric symptoms, and mental Joan Nobiling, M.S.Ed. sons with mental illness. health recovery. Interviews were con- Trained peer leaders deliver the RI ducted at study enrollment and at Dr. Pickett and Ms. Phillips are affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry, Uni- method to participants via weekly three, six, and 12 months postenroll- versity of Illinois at . Ms. Nobiling groups that are held in three formats: ment. A total of 79 participants com- is with Abraham Low Self-Help Systems, in person, by phone, and online. Meet- pleted all four interviews. This study Chicago. ings last from 60 to 90 minutes and fol- was approved by the University of low a structured format. The format Illinois at Chicago Institutional Re- Acknowledgments and disclosures includes discussing a reading from one view Board. This evaluation was funded by ALSHS, the or- of Dr. Low’s books, giving “4-Part Ex- At 12 months, 50 participants (63%) ganization that created and owns the Recovery amples,” and offering mutual aid. The were still attending RI groups, and 29 International program. “4-Part Example” is a structured had stopped going to meetings. Gen- The authors report no competing interests.

PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES o ps.psychiatryonline.org o March 2012 Vol. 63 No. 3 295