Peer mentoring for eating disorders: results from the evaluation of a pilot program
Abstract Background Eating disorders (EDs) are serious psychiatric illnesses that have high rates of morbidity and mortality, and low long-term recovery rates. Peer mentor programs (PMPs) have been associated with reduced psychiatric hospitalisation and shorter lengths of stay for those with other s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Eating Disorders |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40337-019-0245-3 |
| _version_ | 1828046996509818880 |
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| author | Jennifer Beveridge Andrea Phillipou Zoe Jenkins Richard Newton Leah Brennan Freya Hanly Benjamin Torrens-Witherow Narelle Warren Kelly Edwards David Castle |
| author_facet | Jennifer Beveridge Andrea Phillipou Zoe Jenkins Richard Newton Leah Brennan Freya Hanly Benjamin Torrens-Witherow Narelle Warren Kelly Edwards David Castle |
| author_sort | Jennifer Beveridge |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Eating disorders (EDs) are serious psychiatric illnesses that have high rates of morbidity and mortality, and low long-term recovery rates. Peer mentor programs (PMPs) have been associated with reduced psychiatric hospitalisation and shorter lengths of stay for those with other severe mental illnesses. The present study evaluated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a PMP for individuals with EDs in improving symptomatology and quality of life. Methods Thirty mentees and seventeen mentors were recruited. The PMP involved thirteen sessions over 6 months. Participants completed measures assessing ED symptomatology, quality of life (QoL), mood and perceived disability. Changes in symptomatology before and after the PMP were tested by Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Semi-structured interviews were conducted for qualitative evaluation of the PMP. Results The program was deemed to have moderate feasibility with eight of 30 mentees, and two of 17 mentors withdrawing. Completion rates ranged from 2 to 16 sessions, and between 3 and 45 weeks. Mentees demonstrated improvements in body mass index, QoL, ED symptomatology, mood (depression, anxiety and tension/stress) and perceived disability from pre- to post-program. Mentors demonstrated significant increases in ED symptomatology, but no worsening of QoL, mood or perceived disability. Qualitative findings from both mentees and mentors were positive: emergent themes included hope for recovery, a sense of agency and inspiration gained from interaction with someone with lived experience of an ED. Conclusions This pilot study suggests feasibility of the PMP for individuals with EDs. Mentees demonstrated improvements in ED symptomatology, QoL, mood and perceived disability. However, the increase in ED symptomatology reported by the mentors over the PMP highlights potential risks and the need for thorough monitoring while preliminary evaluation is undertaken. The mentoring relationship was a positive experience for both mentees and mentors, instilling an increased hope for recovery in mentees and an opportunity for mentors to reflect on their own recovery with increased confidence. The novel relationship formed throughout mentorship highlights a potential gap in current clinical support services, which warrants further exploration within a controlled trial. Trial registration Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registration Number: ACTRN12617001412325. Retrospectively registered: 05/10/2017. Date of first enrolment: 20/01/2017. https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=373741&isReview=true |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T18:34:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9b3a4c6c38ee4c26ba2e1c366fd2b692 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-2974 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T18:34:23Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Eating Disorders |
| spelling | doaj.art-9b3a4c6c38ee4c26ba2e1c366fd2b6922023-02-02T02:13:33ZengBMCJournal of Eating Disorders2050-29742019-06-017111010.1186/s40337-019-0245-3Peer mentoring for eating disorders: results from the evaluation of a pilot programJennifer Beveridge0Andrea Phillipou1Zoe Jenkins2Richard Newton3Leah Brennan4Freya Hanly5Benjamin Torrens-Witherow6Narelle Warren7Kelly Edwards8David Castle9Eating Disorders VictoriaCentre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of TechnologyDepartment of Psychiatry, St Vincent’s HospitalPeninsula Mental Health Service, Peninsula HealthSchool of Behavioural and Health Science, Australian Catholic UniversitySchool of Behavioural and Health Science, Australian Catholic UniversitySchool of Behavioural and Health Science, Australian Catholic UniversitySchool of Social Sciences, Monash UniversityEating Disorders VictoriaDepartment of Psychiatry, St Vincent’s HospitalAbstract Background Eating disorders (EDs) are serious psychiatric illnesses that have high rates of morbidity and mortality, and low long-term recovery rates. Peer mentor programs (PMPs) have been associated with reduced psychiatric hospitalisation and shorter lengths of stay for those with other severe mental illnesses. The present study evaluated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a PMP for individuals with EDs in improving symptomatology and quality of life. Methods Thirty mentees and seventeen mentors were recruited. The PMP involved thirteen sessions over 6 months. Participants completed measures assessing ED symptomatology, quality of life (QoL), mood and perceived disability. Changes in symptomatology before and after the PMP were tested by Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Semi-structured interviews were conducted for qualitative evaluation of the PMP. Results The program was deemed to have moderate feasibility with eight of 30 mentees, and two of 17 mentors withdrawing. Completion rates ranged from 2 to 16 sessions, and between 3 and 45 weeks. Mentees demonstrated improvements in body mass index, QoL, ED symptomatology, mood (depression, anxiety and tension/stress) and perceived disability from pre- to post-program. Mentors demonstrated significant increases in ED symptomatology, but no worsening of QoL, mood or perceived disability. Qualitative findings from both mentees and mentors were positive: emergent themes included hope for recovery, a sense of agency and inspiration gained from interaction with someone with lived experience of an ED. Conclusions This pilot study suggests feasibility of the PMP for individuals with EDs. Mentees demonstrated improvements in ED symptomatology, QoL, mood and perceived disability. However, the increase in ED symptomatology reported by the mentors over the PMP highlights potential risks and the need for thorough monitoring while preliminary evaluation is undertaken. The mentoring relationship was a positive experience for both mentees and mentors, instilling an increased hope for recovery in mentees and an opportunity for mentors to reflect on their own recovery with increased confidence. The novel relationship formed throughout mentorship highlights a potential gap in current clinical support services, which warrants further exploration within a controlled trial. Trial registration Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registration Number: ACTRN12617001412325. Retrospectively registered: 05/10/2017. Date of first enrolment: 20/01/2017. https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=373741&isReview=truehttp://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40337-019-0245-3Eating disordersPeer mentoringQuality of lifeTreatmentPeer work |
| spellingShingle | Jennifer Beveridge Andrea Phillipou Zoe Jenkins Richard Newton Leah Brennan Freya Hanly Benjamin Torrens-Witherow Narelle Warren Kelly Edwards David Castle Peer mentoring for eating disorders: results from the evaluation of a pilot program Journal of Eating Disorders Eating disorders Peer mentoring Quality of life Treatment Peer work |
| title | Peer mentoring for eating disorders: results from the evaluation of a pilot program |
| title_full | Peer mentoring for eating disorders: results from the evaluation of a pilot program |
| title_fullStr | Peer mentoring for eating disorders: results from the evaluation of a pilot program |
| title_full_unstemmed | Peer mentoring for eating disorders: results from the evaluation of a pilot program |
| title_short | Peer mentoring for eating disorders: results from the evaluation of a pilot program |
| title_sort | peer mentoring for eating disorders results from the evaluation of a pilot program |
| topic | Eating disorders Peer mentoring Quality of life Treatment Peer work |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40337-019-0245-3 |
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