Country | Year | Study design | Number of volunteers interviewed | Volunteer age (mean and age range) | Volunteer gender (% female) | Mental disorders of patientsb |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Austria [19] | 2018 | Survey of volunteers across 5 of the 8 regions in Austria | 360 | 54.5 | 78.8 | Adults with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) |
αGermany [20] | 1990 | Small questionnaire study | 13 | 21–27 | “Mostly female” | Chronically mentally ill |
Ireland [21] | 2015 | Prospective RCT of befriending | 73 | Not stated | Not stated | Adults with SMI |
UK [14] | 2013 | Service evaluation (questionnaire and qualitative interviews with volunteers) | 80, 14 of whom took part in qualitative interviews | 20–60 years-old | Not stated | Mothers with post-natal depression and complex needs |
αUK [15] | 1989 | Naturalistic study, description of service | 31 | 18–59 | 73.3 | Isolated and lonely users of outpatient psychiatric services. Diagnoses: schizophrenia, manic depressive psychosis, depressive neurosis, anxiety states, dependent personality disorder. |
αUK [16] | 2003 | Naturalistic study, profile of service | No detail | No detail | No detail | Socially isolated outpatients experiencing long standing mental health problems. 36% have depression, 10% dual diagnosis, 54% other (schizophrenia, manic-depression, anxiety, and long-term mental health problems). |
αUK [17] | 2003 | Naturalistic study, profile of service | No detail | University students | Not stated (‘Problems recruiting enough male volunteers’) | People with enduring or severe/complex mental health problems. 70% of the 450 had schizophrenia. |
αUK [18] | 2011 | Small questionnaire study | 8 | 50 (29–65) | 25 | Adults (outpatients) with difficulties to form and sustain friendships due to moderate/severe mental health problems. |
αUSA [22] | 2009 | Naturalistic study, service evaluation | 12 | Unclear. All but one estimated to be over 30, some of retirement age | 66.7 | People with severe mental illness (outpatients). Specific psychiatric diagnosis not obtained. |