The following is a summary of the “From participants to partners: reconceptualizing authentic patient engagement roles in youth mental health research,” published in the February 2023 issue of Psychiatry by Prebeg, et al.

Involving people with lived experience in the research process (i.e., patient engagement) is becoming increasingly important in youth mental health research. The literature has documented the far-reaching benefits of patient engagement, such as patient empowerment, improved research outcomes, and increased relevance of research findings. 

Although various models exist to guide patient engagement, key concepts should be explored to ensure these models are authentically implemented and patient roles are developed. 

Their Personal View seeks to identify and discuss barriers to patient engagement roles in the context of youth mental health research; consider how key concepts such as relational empowerment, fluidity, and flexibility can help to address some of these barriers; and provide concrete recommendations for implementing authentic patient engagement throughout the research process.

Source: sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2215036622003777