Though interest grows in improving patient activation in general medical health services, there is little evidence from randomised controlled trials in mental health settings of how to achieve this.

We aimed to evaluate the effects of a brief pre-treatment peer-co-led educational intervention added to mental health treatment. The intervention was developed and carried out in cooperation with user representatives, peer educators and health professionals, and aimed at activating and preparing patients to participate in own treatment.

To assess the 4 months and 12 months effects on patient activation measure-13 (PAM-13) and attendance.

Patients from two community mental health centres were randomised to a control group (CG, n = 26) receiving treatment as usual, or an intervention group (IG, n = 26), consisting of four-hour group pre-treatment educational seminar (peer-support and encouragement to adopt an active role) followed by treatment as usual.

At 4 months follow-up only the IG improved significant on PAM-13. Preliminary results at 12 months on PAM-13 and attendance will be presented.

Brief pre-treatment education improves patient activation at 4 months and could potentially have an effect on attendance at 12 months follow-up.

Pre-treatment education co-led in cooperation with user representatives, peer educators and health professionals is a rational and easy way to activate and engage outpatients in their own health care process.

Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01601587

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.