Bibliotherapy for depression

CLINICAL GUIDELINES

The Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) 2016 Depression Guidelines state the following regarding self-help bibliotherapy:

Overall, bibliotherapy has practical utility due to ease of use and low cost, may be useful for people waiting to be seen for clinical care, and remains a second-line treatment, either alone or as an adjunct to medication, ideally with clinician encouragement and monitoring.

Clinical trials, systematic reviews & meta-analyses

  • Gregory, R. J., Canning, S. S., Lee, T. W., & Wise, J. C. (2004). Cognitive bibliotherapy for depression: A meta-analysis. Professional Psychology, Research and Practice, 35(3), 275-280. https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7028.35.3.275

  • Cuijpers, P. (1997). Bibliotherapy in unipolar depression: A meta-analysis. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 28(2), 139-147. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7916(97)00005-0

  • Gualano, M. R., Bert, F., Martorana, M., Voglino, G., Andriolo, V., Thomas, R., Gramaglia, C., Zeppegno, P., & Siliquini, R. (2017). The long-term effects of bibliotherapy in depression treatment: Systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Clinical Psychology Review, 58, 49-58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2017.09.006

  • Moldovan, R., Cobeanu, O., & David, D. (2013). Cognitive bibliotherapy for mild depressive symptomatology: Randomized clinical trial of efficacy and mechanisms of change: Cognitive bibliotherapy for mild depressive symptomatology. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 20(6), 482-493. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.1814

  • Naylor, E. V., Antonuccio, D. O., Litt, M., Johnson, G. E., Spogen, D. R., Williams, R., McCarthy, C., Lu, M. M., Fiore, D. C., & Higgins, D. L. (2010). Bibliotherapy as a treatment for depression in primary care. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 17(3), 258-271. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-010-9207-2

  • Smith, N. M., Floyd, M. R., Scogin, F., & Jamison, C. S. (1997). Three-year follow-up of bibliotherapy for depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 65(2), 324-327. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.65.2.324