Question: In adults with psychosis, how effective are self-help groups, compared to treatment as usual, for improving patient outcomes?

Answer:

Information on the effectiveness of self-help groups for adults with psychosis was very limited. The results of one small randomised controlled trial (RCT) suggested that participation in these groups may result in increased social contact with peers, compared with usual care. However, these positive findings did not generalise to other relationships (e.g. family and friends) and no other treatment effects were observed. Further large-scale trials are needed to confirm the findings of this study and to investigate possible effects of self-help groups on the symptoms of psychosis and related distress.