dc.contributor.author | Priebe, S | |
dc.contributor.author | Chevalier, A | |
dc.contributor.author | Hamborg, T | |
dc.contributor.author | Golden, E | |
dc.contributor.author | King, M | |
dc.contributor.author | Pistrang, N | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2019-03-14T17:28:09Z | |
dc.date.available | 2019-03-14T17:28:09Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2019-03-04 | |
dc.identifier.citation | Priebe, S., Chevalier, A., Hamborg, T., Golden, E., King, M., & Pistrang, N. (n.d.). Effectiveness of a volunteer befriending programme for patients with schizophrenia: Randomised controlled trial. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 1-7. doi:10.1192/bjp.2019.42 | en_US |
dc.identifier.issn | 0007-1250 | |
dc.identifier.uri | https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/56233 | |
dc.description.abstract | BACKGROUND: Befriending by volunteers has the potential to reduce the frequent social isolation of patients with schizophrenia and thus improve health outcomes. However, trial-based evidence for its effectiveness is limited.AimsTo conduct a randomised controlled trial of befriending for patients with schizophrenia or related disorders. METHOD: Patients were randomised to a befriending programme for 1 year or to receive information about social activities only (trial registration: ISRCTN14021839). Outcomes were assessed masked to allocation at the end of the programme; at 12 months and at a 6-month follow-up. The primary outcome was daily time spent in activities (using the Time Use Survey (TUS)) with intention-to-treat analysis. RESULTS: A total of 124 patients were randomised (63 intervention, 61 active control) and 92 (74%) were followed up at 1 year. In the intervention group, 49 (78%) met a volunteer at least once and 31 (49%) had more than 12 meetings. At 1 year, mean TUS scores were more than three times higher in both groups with no significant difference between them (adjusted difference 8.9, 95% CI -40.7 to 58.5, P = 0.72). There were no significant differences in quality of life, symptoms or self-esteem. However, patients in the intervention group had significantly more social contacts than those in the control group at the end of the 12-month period. This difference held true at the follow-up 6 months later. CONCLUSIONS: Although no difference was found on the primary outcome, the findings suggest that befriending may have a lasting effect on increasing social contacts. It may be used more widely to reduce the social isolation of patients with schizophrenia.Declaration of interestNone. | en_US |
dc.description.sponsorship | This work was supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) under its Programme Grants for Applied Research (Reference Number RP-PG-0611-20002). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the National Health Service, the NIHR or the Department of Health in the UK. | en_US |
dc.format.extent | 1 - 7 | |
dc.language | eng | |
dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
dc.publisher | Cambridge University Press | en_US |
dc.relation.ispartof | Br J Psychiatry | |
dc.rights | Creative Commons Attribution | |
dc.rights | Attribution 3.0 United States | * |
dc.rights.uri | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/ | * |
dc.subject | Social isolation | en_US |
dc.subject | psychosis | en_US |
dc.subject | social contacts | en_US |
dc.subject | volunteering | en_US |
dc.title | Effectiveness of a volunteer befriending programme for patients with schizophrenia: randomised controlled trial. | en_US |
dc.type | Article | en_US |
dc.rights.holder | The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2019 | |
dc.identifier.doi | 10.1192/bjp.2019.42 | |
pubs.author-url | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30829190 | en_US |
pubs.notes | No embargo | en_US |
pubs.publication-status | Published online | en_US |
rioxxterms.funder | Default funder | en_US |
rioxxterms.identifier.project | Default project | en_US |