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PubMed1966

Bibliotherapy: a critique of the literature.

Most of the literature on bibliotherapy has been nonscientific, because of the too broad use of the term "bibliotherapy." The author proposes, for the sake of clarification in the literature, that "bibliotherapy" be defined as a program of selected activity involving reading materials which is planned, conducted, and controlled under the guidance of a physician as treatment for psychiatric patients and which uses, if needed, the assistance of a trained librarian. Bibliotherapy, then, falls into three categories: books prescribed for a patient, books selected by a patient, and group discussion of books. Bibliotherapy may be helpful by facilitating abreaction, projection, narcissistic gratification, verbalization, constructive thinking between interviews, and reinforcement of social and cultural patterns. Bibliotherapy is probably indicated in self-motivated neurotic patients who ask for helpful reading materials. Bibliotherapy offers no panacea, but with proper scientific study may help many patients.

Bibliotherapy↗

PubMed2005

The effectiveness of a bibliotherapy in increasing the self-management ability of slightly to moderately frail older people.

OBJECTIVE: Self-management ability (SMA) is the ability to obtain those resources necessary for the production of well-being. With age, SMA becomes increasingly important, if one has a large variety of resources, physical and psychosocial losses due to the aging process can be substituted or compensated for. This study examined whether an increase in SMA would ensure sustainable levels of positive well-being among slightly to moderately frail older people. METHODS: A bibliotherapy was developed to increase the SMA of slightly to moderately frail older people, and to help these persons to sustain a certain level of well-being. The effectiveness of this bibliotherapy was examined by comparing the SMA, mastery, and subjective well-being of 97 older people participating in the bibliotherapy to those of 96 older people in a delayed-treatment control condition. RESULTS: The bibliotherapy resulted in a significant increase in SMA and mastery compared to the delayed-treatment control condition, and for SMA, this effect still existed 6 months after the intervention. The increase in SMA among older people who received the bibliotherapy prevented a decline in well-being as expected, but only in the short-term. CONCLUSION: The current findings show that it is possible to counteract an age-related decline in well-being, even with only slight to moderate levels of frailty. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Cheap and easily accessible interventions, like the self-management bibliotherapy described in this article, may provide a useful addition to more traditional gerontological interventions.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1980

Bibliotherapy: Rx--literature.

Bibliotherapy is the use of any literary work in the treatment of physical or emotional problems. It is practiced by a variety of professionals including librarians, psychoanalysts, educators, and behavioral scientists. Patrons, outpatients, inpatients, students, clients and parishioners are some of the participants in bibliotherapy sessions. The literature used may be the spoken or the written word or audiovisual, and it may be self-produced or otherwise. Bibliotherapy can be divided into two divisions, psychotherapeutic and educational. An emotional release occurs in bibliotherapy, and healing may take place. Insight may be gained, and personality may be altered. To be a facilitator and to avoid any adverse effects of bibliotherapy, the bibliotherapist must know books and people and must have training in psychotherapy and literature. Bibliotherapy is a form of communication involving the renewing of the mind.

Bibliotherapy↗

PubMed2003

A meta-analysis of the effectiveness of bibliotherapy for alcohol problems.

There has been increased interest in the use of brief interventions and the delivery of alcohol treatment services through nonspecialist health care settings. One possible resource for reaching untreated individuals is "bibliotherapy," the provision of self-help materials to motivate and guide the process of changing drinking behavior. Research on the effectiveness of self-help materials for problem drinkers has been done for three decades. This report summarizes a meta-analytic review of 22 studies evaluating the effectiveness of such self-help materials. Each study was rated on 12 methodological criteria, and effect sizes of bibliotherapy were computed. The methodological quality of studies was generally high relative to other treatment-outcome studies. Modest support was found for the efficacy of self-help materials in decreasing at-risk and harmful drinking. The weighted mean pre/post-effect size for bibliotherapy was .80 with self-referred individuals seeking help for drinking problems, and .65 for individuals identified through health screening. Between-group comparisons of bibliotherapy with no-intervention controls appear to have a small to medium effect, with a weighted mean effect size of .31 with self-referred drinkers; effect size was more variable in opportunistic interventions based on health screening. Finally, between-group comparisons of effects on drinking of bibliotherapy versus more extensive interventions yielded effect size values near zero. These findings provide support for the cost-effective use of bibliotherapy with problem drinkers seeking such help to reduce their consumption, and to a lesser extent with drinkers who are identified through screening as at risk.

Alcoholism↗

PubMed1995

A meta-analysis of bibliotherapy studies.

Used meta-analysis to examine the efficacy of bibliotherapy. Bibliotherapy treatments were compared to control groups and therapist-administered treatments. The mean estimated effect size (d) of the 70 samples analyzed was + 0.565. There was no significant differences between the effects of bibliotherapy and therapist-administered treatments, as well as no significant erosion of effect sizes at follow-up. Bibliotherapy did appear more effective for certain problem types (assertion training, anxiety, and sexual dysfunction) than for others (weight loss, impulse control, and studying problems). Overall the amount of therapist contact during bibliotherapy did not seem to relate to effectiveness, but there was evidence that certain problem types (weight loss and anxiety reduction) responded better with increased therapist contact. Recommendations for future research were given, especially for more research on the commonly purchased books and moderator analyses by personality type and reading ability.

Bibliotherapy↗

PubMed1997

Bibliotherapy in unipolar depression: a meta-analysis.

In the last decades, several therapies for unipolar depression have been developed, for example cognitive therapy, behavior therapy and pharmacotherapy. A new kind of therapy is bibliotherapy. What is new in this treatment modality is not the content, because bibliotherapy usually uses a cognitive-behavioral approach. Only the form in which it is presented is new. In bibliotherapy the patient takes a standardized treatment home, in book form, and works it through more or less independently. Contacts with therapists are only supportive or facilitative. No traditional relationship between therapist and patient is developed. In this article the relevance of bibliotherapy for the clinical practice is presented and a meta-analysis of the research into bibliotherapy is described.

Bibliotherapy↗

PubMed1989

Comparative efficacy of cognitive and behavioral bibliotherapy for mildly and moderately depressed older adults.

The efficacy of bibliotherapy for mildly and moderately depressed older adults was examined. Cognitive bibliotherapy and behavioral bibliotherapy were compared with a delayed-treatment control condition. Results indicate that the two experimental conditions were superior to the control condition, but that the cognitive and behavioral bibliotherapies were nondifferentially efficacious. Sixty-six percent of the subjects demonstrated clinically significant change. There were no specific effects associated with either the cognitive or the behavioral interventions. Treatment gains were maintained at 6-month follow-up. The implications of bibliotherapy for geriatric depression as an alternative or adjunct to traditional treatments are discussed.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

The role of bibliotherapy in health anxiety: an experimental study.

Despite its high prevalence and implications for health care resources, health anxiety is generally considered difficult and expensive to manage. Structured self-help materials (bibliotherapy) using a cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) treatment approach have been shown to be clinically effective. This experimental study investigated the effects of bibliotherapy on patients who had been identified as demonstrating health concerns. The 40 participants (patients drawn from GP surgeries) were randomly allocated to two groups, one receiving bibliotherapy and the other not. Half the patients had a medically diagnosed problem. Anxiety was assessed before and after the bibliotherapy intervention, which took the form of a cognitive-behavioural self-help booklet for health anxiety sufferers. Patients in the bibliotherapy group showed reduced levels of anxiety at post-test, even when they also had an identifiable physical problem. These results are consistent with the idea that self-help materials can be an effective and accessible intervention in CBT, although further research is recommended.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2003

Bibliotherapy: the therapeutic use of didactic and literary texts in treatment, diagnosis, prevention, and training.

The term bibliotherapy has been defined by Russell and Shrodes as "a process of dynamic interaction between the personality of the reader and literature--an interaction which may be used for personality assessment, adjustment, and growth." In the clinical setting, the dynamics that promote change in a patient-reader can include identification, projection, introjection, catharsis, and insight. Clinicians may use bibliotherapy as a tool for patient treatment, medical diagnosis, and the prevention of illness related to psychosocial dysfunction, allowing for gradual and mutual insight into patient complaints over time. Bibliotherapy may display efficacy on intellectual, psychosocial, interpersonal, emotional, and behavioral levels. The author identifies two basic types of resources that are useful to clinicians administering bibliotherapy: didactic texts, which are instructive, and imaginative literature, which can be a literary text, biography, or autobiography and fosters an imaginative response from the patient-reader. The author identifies the advantages and risks of using bibliotherapy and explores its possible applications in osteopathic medical education, encouraging osteopathic medical educators to familiarize themselves with this treatment modality.

Bibliotherapy↗

PubMed1998

Bibliotherapy in the treatment of sexual dysfunctions: a meta-analysis.

This article describes the combined effect of 12 controlled studies of bibliotherapy for sexual dysfunctions, comprising data on 397 participants, who were treated in 16 bibliotherapy groups. A mean effect size of 0.68 SDs at posttreatment was found (0.50 when weighted for sample size). This effect eroded at follow-up. No influence on effect size was found for either bibliotherapy implementation characteristics or study methodology. Studies were largely limited to bibliotherapeutic administration of the directed practice approach to orgasmic disorders. The efficacy of bibliotherapy has not yet been investigated sufficiently for evaluation of its use for other sexual dysfunctions or for its comparison with other therapeutic approaches for sexual dysfunctions.

Bibliotherapy↗

PubMed2004

Cognitive therapy for depression: a comparison of individual psychotherapy and bibliotherapy for depressed older adults.

Thirty-one community-residing older adults age 60 or over either received 16 sessions of individual cognitive psychotherapy (Beck, Rush, Shaw, & Emery, 1979) or read Feeling Good (Bums, 1980) for bibliotherapy. Posttreatment comparisons with the delayed-treatment control indicated that both treatments were superior to a delayed-treatment control. Individual psychotherapy was superior to bibliotherapy at posttreatment on self-reported depression, but there were no differences on clinician-rated depression. Further, bibliotherapy participants continued to improve after posttreatment. and there were no differences between treatments at 3-month follow-up. Results suggest that bibliotherapy and that individual psychotherapy are both viable treatment options for depression in older adults.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Who uses bibliotherapy and why? A survey from an underserviced area.

OBJECTIVE: To assess which mental health therapists use bibliotherapy, their reasons for doing so, and rationale for recommending specific titles. To review the book selected most often in several categories, using prepublished criteria for reviewers of self-help books. METHOD: We sent a survey to all therapists in a Northern Ontario community requesting information on therapist demographics, the respondent's practice, the use of bibliotherapy, and details of the book most often prescribed in various categories. RESULTS: Of 112 surveys, 62 were returned, for a response rate of 55%. Sixty-eight percent of respondents indicated that they used bibliotherapy. The most common reason for recommending books was to encourage self-help. There was a significant relation between greater counselling experience and increased use of bibliotherapy. Three of the 5 books reviewed were based on empirical theory; only 1 met all the guidelines. CONCLUSION: Most therapists recommend books to their clients, but there is little empirical evidence of efficacy. Counsellors should review the books recommended and discuss them with the client. Client opinion should be solicited and effectiveness measured.

Bibliotherapy↗

PubMed2003

Bibliotherapy as an adjunct to psychotherapy for depression in older adults.

Bibliotherapy, reading a self-help book for the treatment of psychological problems, has been shown to be effective as a "stand-alone" treatment for depression. Many practitioners recommend self-help books as an adjunct to treatment. This article offers some guidelines for the use of bibliotherapy as an adjunct to individual psychotherapy with depressed older adults. Two clinical cases demonstrate how bibliotherapy can be used effectively in conjunction with individual psychotherapy.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

An investigation into the effectiveness of bibliotherapy and minimal contact interventions in the treatment of panic attacks.

The present study investigated the effectiveness of bibliotherapy and minimal therapist-contact interventions in the treatment of panic attacks. Individuals were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1) bibliotherapy alone (BT); (2) bibliotherapy plus phone contact (BT+PC); or (3) phone contact alone (PC). Assessment (pre- and post-treatment) and treatment (8 weeks in duration) were conducted via mail and phone. Individuals receiving BT and BT+PC exhibited significant reductions from pre- to post-treatment on panic cognitions and fear of having a panic attack. Individuals receiving BT+PC exhibited significant reductions from pre- to post-treatment on panic symptoms and avoidance. In addition, individuals in the BT and BT+PC groups were more likely to exhibit clinically significant improvement on most dependent measures relative to PC alone. On some measures, individuals in the BT+PC group did clinically better than individuals in the BT group. Results of the present study also suggest that diagnosis may play some role in outcome.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Bibliotherapy as an adjunct to stimulant medication in the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The effectiveness of bibliotherapy as an adjunct to stimulant medication in the treatment of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder was investigated. Subjects were randomly assigned to the experimental group, or the control group. Parents in the experimental group received a written protocol (bibliotherapy) outlining behavioral techniques for managing oppositional child behavior. Results indicated significant differences favoring the experimental group on standardized measures of the intensity of behavior problems in the home, parental knowledge of behavioral principles, and teacher ratings of behavior. This bibliotherapy approach appears to offer an inexpensive adjunct to stimulant medication in the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder when individual or group behavior management training is not feasible.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A bibliotherapy approach to relapse prevention in individuals with panic attacks.

The present study examined a relapse prevention (RP) program delivered via bibliotherapy in the treatment of individuals with panic attacks. Compared with a wait list control group, individuals receiving RP exhibited significant reductions on measures of frequency of panic attacks, panic cognitions, anticipatory anxiety, avoidance, and depression. In addition, individuals in the RP group were more likely to attain a "clinically significant change" in status on both panic-free status and level of avoidance more frequently than individuals in the control group. When compared with treatment effects evaluated in two prior phases of the study, the obtained results appear to be the product of a synchronous effect of bibliotherapy and minimal phone contact during the 6-month follow-up period. The results reflect the importance of brief therapist contact in increasing motivation for active participation in bibliotherapy interventions.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

[Bibliotherapy as a self-help program for parents of children with externalizing problem behavior].

OBJECTIVES: Externalizing problem behaviour is one of the most frequent and most stable behavioural disorders of childhood and adolescence. The development of applicable alternatives to expensive and restrictedly available treatments becomes increasingly necessary. This pilot study tested bibliotherapy in the form of a manual-assisted self-help programme under minimum contact conditions for parents of children with externalizing problem behaviour. METHOD: A total of 21 children, aged 6 to 15 years and diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and/or an Oppositional Defiant Disorder, were recruited from an outpatient population. The bibliotherapy lasted 10 weeks and consisted of working through a self-help book for parents (Wackelpeter und Trotzkopf). Initial clinical interviews and pre- and post-treatment evaluations were included, as well as short weekly telephone contacts (approx. 20 min. per contact) with the parents. RESULTS: The children's externalizing behaviour was significantly reduced during the intervention. The parenting skills were strengthened. The satisfaction of the parents with the program was high. Fewer than 20% of the parents indicated a need for an additional intensive behavioural outpatient treatment at the end of the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Bibliotherapy may be an applicable and effective treatment alternative for children with disruptive behaviour disorders, at least in families with the resources necessary for this kind of intervention. The results have to be replicated within randomized control group trials.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Bibliotherapy: using fiction to help children in two populations discuss feelings.

PURPOSE: To identify whether bibliotherapy will help children with short stature and diabetes discuss their feelings and to explore themes that may help children cope with short stature and diabetes. METHOD: Twenty-seven children, referred to a pediatric endocrinologist, aged 7-16 years, participated in interviews after reading a work of fiction. A semi-structured interview guide was used in both groups to elicit feelings about the work of fiction, feelings of self-esteem, and attitudes toward the condition. FINDINGS: Children freely discussed their feelings about school experiences and condition-related issues. Several themes emerged from data analysis including the child's development of compensatory attributes, responses to teasing, and management of diabetes. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that bibliotherapy is an effective nursing intervention in children with short stature and diabetes. Bibliotherapy can be used by nurses to facilitate open discussion between nurses, children, and families.

Adaptation, Psychological↗