UPSIDES - Recovery Through Peer Support

NCT07407842 | Enrolling By Invitation

• 1 other identifier: Peer support
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 300
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Mental Illness

Keywords

Peer support

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Personal recovery

  The Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery (QPR) (Argentzell et al Measuring personal recovery - psychometric properties of the Swedish Process of Recovery Questionnaire (QPR-Swe). Nordic J Psych. 2017; 71:7, 529-535). The QPR consists of 16 items, all rated on a five point scale (0 = does not apply at all, 1 = does not apply, 2 = neither nor, 3 = applies, 4 = fully applies). Higher scores indicate a higher degree of recovery.

  Before intervention, post intervention (at 10 weeks), 3 months post intervention

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Social Inclusion

  Before intervention, post intervention (at 10 weeks), 3 months post intervention

• Quality of life measure

  Before intervention, post intervention (at 10 weeks), 3 months post intervention

• Empowerment

  Before intervention, post intervention (at 10 weeks), 3 months post intervention

• Symptoms

  Before intervention, post intervention (at 10 weeks), 3 months post intervention

• Function

  Before intervention, post intervention (at 10 weeks), 3 months post intervention

Study Arms (2)

UPSIDES-Swe

EXPERIMENTAL

Other: UPSIDES-Swe

TAU

NO INTERVENTION

Interventions

UPSIDES-Swe OTHER

Peer support study circle

Also known as: TAU

UPSIDES-Swe

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Lund University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Region Skåne

Lund, Sweden

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Mental Disorders

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 6, 2026
• First Posted: February 12, 2026
• Study Start: November 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2028
• Last Updated: March 17, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

SE (1)