Effects of befriending on depressive symptoms and distress: systematic review and meta-analysis
- Forfatter(e)
- Mead, N. Lester, H. Chew-Graham, C. Gask, L. Bower, P.
- År
- 2010
- Tidsskrift
- British Journal of Psychiatry
- Sider
- 96-101
- Kategori(er)
- Depresjon og nedstemthet (inkl. både vansker og lidelse)
- Tiltakstype(r)
- Abstract
BACKGROUND: High rates of emotional distress and depressive symptoms in the community can reflect difficult life events and social circumstances. There is a need for appropriate, low-cost, non-medical interventions for many individuals. Befriending is an emotional support intervention commonly offered by the voluntary sector.
AIMS: To examine the effectiveness of befriending in the treatment of emotional distress and depressive symptoms:
METHOD: Systematic review of randomised trials of interventions focused on providing emotional support to individuals in the community:
RESULTS: Compared with usual care or no treatment, befriending had a modest but significant effect on depressive symptoms in the short term (standardised mean difference SMD = -0.27, 95% CI -0.48 to -0.06, nine studies) and long term (SMD = -0.18, 95% CI -0.32 to -0.05, five studies).
CONCLUSIONS: Befriending has a modest effect on depressive symptoms and emotional distress in varied patient groups. Further exploration of active ingredients, appropriate target populations and optimal methods of delivery is required.