Professional appraisal of professionally led and self-help groups

A survey of almost 1,100 mental health professionals found they routinely v iewed professionally led groups more positively than they did self-help gro ups on a number of dimensions. Analyses suggested that the curative factor associated with professionally led groups was valued over factors associate d with self-help groups. The implications of the findings are discussed, an d an alternative framework for professionals' evaluation of consumer-initia ted interventions suggested.