Effectiveness of peer support interventions for adults with depressive symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background

Many adults suffer from depression and peer support has been shown to reduce depressive symptoms.

Aim

To examine the effectiveness of peer support interventions for adults with depressive symptoms.

Methods

Five electronic databases were searched until February 2021. A random-effect meta-analysis was conducted. The I² statistics and Cochran’s Q chi-squared test assessed heterogeneity. Quality appraisal was conducted by the Cochrane risk of bias tool and the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach at the study and outcome level, respectively.

Results

Seventeen studies conducted in most Western countries and on the maternal population were included. Three types of peer support interventions (peer-delivered psychotherapy, individualized peer mentoring, and peer support group discussions) were identified. Significant effects of peer support interventions were found when compared to standard care. However, professional-led psychotherapy and exercise programs showed more effectiveness compared to peer support group discussions.

Conclusions

Future trials could be improved by engaging trained healthy peers (peers with and without prior history of depression) to deliver interventions, encouraging online methods of communication between participants and peers, and facilitating the building of deeper connections between participants and peers. Considering the low-quality rating by the GRADE approach, future research is needed to corroborate current findings.

Keywords:

• Peer support
• depression
• adults
• systematic review
• meta-analysis

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the National University Health System, Research Support Unit, for assistance with the language editing of this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

All authors declare that they have no relevant financial or non-financial competing interests to report.