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Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives® (PEARLS®)

University of Washington

Website: https://hprc.uw.edu/programs-tools/pearls/

Program Type

Treatment or Direct Services Program

Cost

$2,501 or more

Evidence Type

Empirically-Defined Evidence

SPRC Comprehensive Approach

Identify and Assist, Effective Care/Treatment, Connectedness

selected What is this?
Program or Intervention Summary

The PEARLS Program is an evidence-based program using methods of problem solving treatment, social and physical activation, and increased pleasant events to reduce depression among people who have been systematically excluded from mental health care. PEARLS is an empowering, skill-building approach. When you learn a new skill, no one can take that away from you, and that is part of what makes PEARLS such an effective approach. As a member of the team implementing PEARLS, you will be instrumental in empowering individuals in your community with new skills.

PEARLS is based on three fundamental principles:

  • What a participant is experiencing are symptoms and the symptoms are due to depression.
  • There is a close link between depression and unsolved problems.
  • Increasing participation in social, physical, and other pleasant activities will lead to a decrease in depressive symptoms.

By working with PEARLS participants to help them define and solve their problems, become more socially and physically active, and experience more pleasant activities, their symptoms of depression can be decreased. PEARLS educates participants about what depression is (and is not) and helps them develop the skills they need for self-sufficiency and more active lives.

Washington, U. o. (2024). PEARLS Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives – Community-Based Depression Care: Implementation Toolkit.

Selected References:

Ciechanowski, P., Chaytor, N., Miller, J., Fraser, R., Russo, J., Unutzer, J., & Gilliam, F. (2010). PEARLS depression treatment for individuals with epilepsy: a randomized controlled trial. Epilepsy Behav, 19(3), 225-231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2010.06.003

Smith, M. L., Steinman, L. E., Montoya, C. N., Thompson, M., Zhong, L., & Merianos, A. L. (2023). Effectiveness of the Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives (PEARLS) to reduce depression: a multi-state evaluation. Front Public Health, 11, 1169257. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1169257

Steinman, L., Parrish, A., Mayotte, C., Bravo Acevedo, P., Torres, E., Markova, M., Boddie, M., Lachenmayr, S., Montoya, C. N., Parker, L., Conton-Pelaez, E., Silsby, J., & Snowden, M. (2021). Increasing Social Connectedness for Underserved Older Adults Living With Depression: A Pre-Post Evaluation of PEARLS. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, 29(8), 828-842. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2020.10.005

Type Treatment or Direct Services Program
Setting In-person, Home, Community
Audience Women, Men, Low Income, Physical Health Problems/Disabilities
Languages English
Study Method Quantitative Design
Study Type Correlational or survey, Experimental research
Implementer Requirement Adults
Training Requirement Yes
Delivery Options In-Person
Risk and Protective Factors History of depression and other mental illnesses, Serious illness such as chronic pain, Job/financial problems or loss, Social isolation, Effective coping and problem-solving skills, Feeling connected to others, Feeling connected to school, community, and other social institutions, Availability of consistent and high quality physical and behavioral healthcare

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