Personal recovery is a persisting concern for people with psychotic disorders. Accordingly, mental health services have adopted frameworks of personal recovery, prioritizing adaptation to psychosis alongside symptom remission. Group acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for psychosis aims to promote personal recovery alongside improved mood and quality of life.

The objectives of this uncontrolled, prospective pilot study were to determine whether ‘Recovery ACT’ groups for adults are a feasible, acceptable and safe program within public mental health services, and assess effectiveness through measuring changes in personal recovery, wellbeing, and psychological flexibility.

Program feasibility, acceptability and safety indicators were collected from referred consumers (n=105). Adults (n=80) diagnosed with psychotic disorders participated in an evaluation of ‘Recovery ACT’ groups in Australian community public mental health services. Participants completed pre- and post-group measures assessing personal recovery, wellbeing, and psychological flexibility.

Of 101 group enrollees, 78.2% attended at least one group session (n=79); 73.8% attended three or more, suggesting feasibility. Eighty of 91 first-time attendees participated in the evaluation. Based on completer analyses (n=39), participants’ personal recovery and wellbeing increased post-group. Outcome changes correlated with the linear combination of psychological flexibility measures.

‘Recovery ACT’ groups are feasible, acceptable and safe in Australian public mental health services. ‘Recovery ACT’ may improve personal recovery, wellbeing, and psychological flexibility. Uncontrolled study design, completer analyses, and program discontinuation rates limit conclusions.

Family education programs (FEPs) target caregiving-related psychological distress for carers of relatives/friends diagnosed with serious mental health conditions. While FEPs are efficacious in reducing distress, the mechanisms are not fully known. Peer group support and greater mental health knowledge are proposed to reduce carers' psychological distress by reducing stigmatising attitudes and self-blame, and strengthening carers' relationship with their relative.

Adult carers (n = 1016) who participated in Wellways Australia's FEP from 2009 to 2016 completed self-report questionnaires at the core program's start and end, during the consolidation period, and at a 6-month follow-up. Those who enrolled early completed questionnaires prior to a wait-list period. We used linear mixed-effects modelling to assess the program's effectiveness using a naturalistic wait-list control longitudinal design, and multivariate latent growth modelling to test a theory-based process change model.

While there was no significant change over the wait-list period, psychological distress, self-blame and stigmatising attitudes significantly decreased, and communication and relationship quality/feelings increased from the core program's start to its end. Changes were maintained throughout the consolidation period and follow-up. Peer group support significantly predicted the declining trajectory of distress. Peer group support and greater knowledge significantly predicted declining levels of self-blame and stigmatising attitudes, and increasing levels of communication.

This is the first study to quantitatively validate the mechanisms underlying the effect of FEPs on carers' psychological distress. Peer group support is key in modifying carers' appraisals of their friend/relatives' condition. Continued implementation of FEPs within mental health service systems is warranted.