Overview
The Clinical, Economic and Patient Benefits of Peer Specialists in the Management of Persons with Depression
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Even amongst patients who do seek treatment for their depression, over half do not receive adequate care. Nonadherence and early medication discontinuation are common, and the underlying reasons are varied. Past efforts to improve treatment persistence have yielded only modest success. However, most experts agree that clinical strategies are often rendered with an incomplete understanding of the complex barriers patients are facing in their daily lives.
Considering these challenges, many health systems have augmented their workforce to include peer specialists who work in complement to the clinical team. These workers are individuals with the lived experience of a mental health condition who provide support to others experiencing similar challenges. They provide non-clinical, strengths-based support and in addition to having direct experience, are trained through credentialed programs. Their inclusion as part of the healthcare workforce can help break down barriers of experience and understanding, as well as “power dynamics” between patient and provider that may impede optimal management.
In this activity, clinical specialists and patients share firsthand accounts on the benefits of having peer specialists work in complement to the treatment team and provide best practices on steps to integrate these team members, from training requirements and competencies to roles and job structures.
This activity is intended for U.S.-based healthcare systems and healthcare providers including psychiatrists, hospital administrators, primary care providers, clinical pharmacists, psychiatric nurses, and other members of the multidisciplinary team managing patients with depression.
Major depressive disorder is a chronic, heterogeneous condition with a range of presentations and a broad constellation of associated symptoms. Many patients do not seek treatment even though the disease can manifest itself episodically and can affect multiple life domains. Of those who receive treatment, nonadherence and treatment discontinuation are common. The use of peer support specialists, individuals with lived experience who are trained as specialists, provides value not only to patients, but to clinicians and health systems. As the number of peer specialists continues to grow, health practices of all sizes need to understand the value of expanding their workforce to include these individuals.
Upon completion of this activity, learners will be able to:
• Assess the value of expanding workforces to include peer support individuals
• Outline strategies on how to integrate peer specialists to complement treatment practices
• Assess the value of expanding workforces to include peer support individuals
• Outline strategies on how to integrate peer specialists to complement treatment practices
This educational activity is provided in collaboration with the Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning (ACHL) and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA).
Supported by an educational grant from Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
Karen G. Rentas, PhD
Director of Behavioral Health
Providence Facey Medical Foundation
Mission Hills, CA
Director of Behavioral Health
Providence Facey Medical Foundation
Mission Hills, CA
Lauren Yang, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Lunar Wave Psychological Services Inc.
Long Beach, CA
Jennifer D. Adkison
Certified Peer Counselor
Sharon T. Chen
Patient Advocate
Sharon T. Chen
Patient Advocate
The Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning (ACHL) requires that the faculty participating in an accredited continuing education activity disclose all affiliations or other financial relationships within 24 months (1) with the manufacturers of any commercial product(s) and/or provider(s) of commercial services discussed in an educational presentation and (2) with all ineligible companies. All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated prior to this activity.
Faculty have no financial relationships to disclose:
Lauren Yang, PsyD
Jennifer D. Adkison
Sharon T. Chen
ACHL staff members, DBSA staff members , and others involved with the planning, development, and review of the content for this activity have no relevant affiliations or financial relationships to disclose.
The content for this activity was developed independently of any ineligible company. All materials are included with permission. The opinions expressed are those of the faculty and are not to be construed as those of the publisher or grantor(s).
This educational activity was planned and produced in accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Recommendations involving clinical medicine in a continuing medical education (CME/CE) activity must be based on evidence that is accepted within the profession of medicine as adequate justification for their indications and contraindications in the care of patients. All scientific research referred to, reported, or used in CME/CE in support or justification of a patient care recommendation must conform to the generally accepted standards of experimental design, data collection, and analysis.
This CME/CE activity might describe the off-label, investigational, or experimental use of medications and/or devices that may exceed their FDA-approved labeling. Physicians should consult the current manufacturers’ prescribing information for these products. ACHL requires the speaker to disclose that a product is not labeled for the use under discussion.
Discussion of scientific information on unapproved uses (SIUU), off-label, investigational, or experimental drug/device use: None
This activity will take approximately 60 minutes to complete. To receive credit, learners are required to complete the pretest, view the online activity, and complete the posttest and evaluation. To receive credit, 66% must be achieved on the posttest. A certificate will be immediately available. There is no fee to participate in the activity or for the generation of the certificate.
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning (ACHL) and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA). ACHL is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses may participate in this educational activity and earn a certificate of completion as AAPA, AANP, and ANCC accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ through their reciprocity agreements.
