Professional appraisal of professionally led and self-help groups.

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