UPSIDES - Recovery Through Peer Support

Enrolling by invitation · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Mental Illness

In brief

Research problem and specific questions Peer support (PS) is a well-established intervention within community mental health services (CMHS) internationally, involving a person recovering from serious mental health problems (SMHP) in supporting other users. International studies have shown that PS strengthen users recovery and social inclusion but also highlight the need for larger effect studies on specific manualized interventions. Despite international research showing benefits of PS in C MHS, PS an underused type of support in Sweden. There is a urgent need for more Swedish research developing and evaluating the efficacy of PS interventions for persons recovering from SMHP and in shifting Swedish MHS towards a recovery focused model of service. In meeting this need the current project aims to evaluate the efficacy of a new manualized PS intervention, the UPSIDES-Swe, in Swedish MHS. Is the peer support intervention, UPSIDES-Swe, significantly more effective than TAU at intervention end (10 weeks) in terms of personal recovery (primary outcome)? Is UPSIDES-Swe significantly more effective than TAU post intervention and at three month followups in terms of other personal recovery aspects (secondary outcomes i.e., social inclusion, empowerment, quality of life)? Is the UPSIDES-Swe, significantly more effective than TAU post intervention and at three followups in improving secondary outcomes of clinical recovery related variables, i.e., symptoms and functioning? How well can the implementation plan and UPSIDES-Swe intervention be implemented and processes explained in relation to primary and secondary outcomes? Data and method A randomized, assessor-blinded, multi-center trial will be performed between the years 2025-2028. A total of 300 service users will be recruited, and half will be randomized to receiving a PS intervention (UPSIDES-Swe) and an equal number to TAU. A process evaluation will also be performed. Societal relevance and utilization This project will investigate if a specific PS intervention might be effective in providing greater recovery and social inclusion for a disadvantaged and largely neglected group. The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare has also recommended that PS is a promising method but that the evidence is weak and that all implementation of PS interventions should be evaluated.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT07407842
Run by: Lund University
People needed: 300
Starts: 2025-11-01
Expected to finish: 2028-11-01
Last updated by the study team: 2026-03-17

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Eligible participants must reside in Sweden and be assigned to a MHS. Other criteria are a) being over 18 of age and b) having SMHP (including a diagnosis of mood disorder, anxiety disorder, e.g., PTSD, panic disorder etc., and/or psychotic disorder).

You may not qualify if…

Potential participants will be excluded if they are acutely unwell or cognitively impaired to an extent that they cannot make an informed decision and/or participate in the group program

Where it is running

Region Skåne — Lund, Sweden

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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