Soteria-Based Treatment Models for Severe Mental Illness: A Scoping Review of Empirical Studies Published 2005–Present

This project is a preregistered scoping review examining empirical studies of Soteria-based treatment models for individuals with severe mental illness published from 2005 onward. The Soteria model was originally developed as a psychosocial alternative to conventional psychiatric hospitalization for individuals with schizophrenia-spectrum and other psychotic disorders. It emphasizes small-scale therapeutic environments, interpersonal engagement, minimal coercion, and cautious or limited use of antipsychotic medication. While earlier studies suggested that Soteria-oriented approaches may achieve outcomes comparable to or, in some cases, better than treatment as usual (TAU), the most recent comprehensive systematic review included studies only up to 2005. The purpose of this review is to systematically identify, describe and map peer-reviewed empirical studies evaluating Soteria-based interventions implemented since 2005. The review includes quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies and places no restrictions on language. Eligible studies must explicitly describe the intervention as Soteria, Soteria-based, Soteria-inspired or grounded in Soteria principles. The review will examine reported clinical, functional, and psychosocial outcomes, including symptom severity, recovery, social functioning, quality of life, hospitalization, medication use, and lived experience outcomes. This scoping review will be conducted in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Formal risk-of-bias assessment will not be performed, consistent with scoping review methodology. The aim is to map the breadth and characteristics of the available literature, identify knowledge gaps, and clarify the extent to which Soteria-based approaches have been evaluated in contemporary mental health services. This project forms part of a graduate-level thesis in medicine at the University of Copenhagen. Keywords: Soteria; severe mental illness; schizophrenia-spectrum disorders; psychotic disorders; scoping review