Bibliotherapy (self-help books)

Our rating
Books on cognitive behaviour therapy 1 Smiley: This treatment is promising and may be useful. It has some evidence to support it, but more evidence is needed to be sure it works.
Other books Question mark: This treatment has not been properly researched. It is not possible to say whether they are useful or not.

 

The rating system

  • 3 smiliesThese treatments are very useful. They are strongly supported as effective by scientific evidence.
  • 2 smiliesThese treatments are useful. They are supported by scientific evidence as effective, but the evidence is not as strong.
  • 1 smileyThese treatments are promising and may be useful. They have some evidence to support them, but more evidence is needed to be sure they work.
  • No smiley On the available evidence, these treatments do not seem to be effective.
  • Question markThese treatments have not been properly researched. It is not possible to say whether they are useful or not.
  • Exclamation MarkSafety or other concerns have been raised for the use of these treatments.

What is it?

Bibliotherapy involves reading books to get information on how to overcome emotional problems. Bibliotherapy teaches people useful self-help techniques and strategies, and provides homework exercises so that the knowledge can be put into practice. Most bibliotherapy teaches the techniques used in cognitive behaviour therapy. Bibliotherapy is a self-help treatment, but it can also be done under the supervision of a professional who may check in occasionally to see how the patient is going.

Bibliotherapy is very similar to other self-help treatments which are delivered via the internet. For more information, see our entry on computerised cognitive behavioural therapy.

How does it work?

Self-help books contain structured programs for their readers to follow. The reader learns about specific techniques to help manage depression, and then can put these into practice in their life. The information and programs provided in self-help books are often similar to what a therapist would provide if the person sought help face to face. Most bibliotherapy uses techniques from cognitive behaviour therapy, which is considered one of the best treatments for depression. These techniques show people how thoughts, feelings and behaviours are associated with depression.

Is it effective?

Many studies have found that self-help books can be effective at reducing depression in people with mild to moderate symptoms, and that it works better than no treatment. Some studies have found that bibliotherapy can be of similar effectiveness to group therapy or individual therapy. Bibliotherapy has not been researched as a treatment for people with severe depression.

Are there any disadvantages?

Bibliotherapy may be unhelpful if a person diagnoses themselves incorrectly and then gives themselves the wrong treatment. Some people may also find it difficult to complete the treatment without any outside assistance or motivation, and some books may be difficult to follow for people who don’t have strong reading skills.

Where do you get it?

Most bookshops have self-help depression books available. They can also be purchased from online retailers. Two common self-help books are Feeling Good (Burns, 1980) and Control Your Depression (Lewinsohn and others, 1986). Beating the Blues (Tanner and Ball, 1989) is an Australian version.. 

Recommendation

Bibliotherapy can be helpful for people with mild to moderate depression. It is a good idea to check with a professional (such as a GP or psychologist) before commencing treatment to discuss if bibliotherapy is right for you. It is best to use a tested book which teaches techniques from cognitive behavioural therapy.

Key references

  • Cuijpers, P. Bibliotherapy in unipolar depression: a meta-analysis. Journal of Behaviour Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry 1997; 28(2): 139-147.
  • Gregory RJ, Canning SS, Lee TW, Wise JC. Cognitive bibliotherapy for depression: a meta-analysis. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice 2004; 35: 275-280.
  • Gualano MR, Bert F, Martorana M, Voglino G, Andriolo V, Thomas R, et al. The long-term effects of bibliotherapy in depression treatment: Systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Clinical psychology review. 2017; 58:49-58.
  • Yuan S, Zhou X, Zhang Y, Zhang H, Pu J, Yang L, et al. Comparative efficacy and acceptability of bibliotherapy for depression and anxiety disorders in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment. 2018; 14: 353-65.

Last reviewed and updated: 1 November 2019