Improving patient access and choice: Assisted Bibliotherapy for mild to moderate stress/anxiety in primary care

Abstract

Current traditional methods of mental healthcare service delivery, based on 'specialists' providing 'outpatient appointments' for formal therapy, are often inappropriate for the needs of patients in primary care. The estimated numbers of adults with mental health problems are immense, and it is this, combined with Department of Health initiatives aimed at improving choice and access, which make it essential that new ways of delivering services are explored. This trial examines the use of an assisted self-help treatment package for mild to moderate stress/anxiety [Assisted Bibliotherapy (AB)] with an adult clinical population referred by their general practitioner. Assisted Bibliotherapy is a brief intervention (8 weeks), with limited therapist contact (20-min sessions). Non-parametric statistical testing of scores from the Zung Anxiety Scale and the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation (CORE) questionnaire indicated positive results. There was significant improvement at post-treatment, which was maintained at 3 month follow-up. The results from this trial and a previous trial of AB by Kupshik & Fisher in 1999, indicate that it is an effective treatment which could be used as part of a stepped care approach to managing and treating stress/anxiety in primary care.

A controlled study of assisted bibliotherapy: an assisted self-help treatment for mild to moderate stress and anxiety

“…The most helpful modules were one (information on anxiety/stress) and three (controlled breathing) with 62% and 76%, respectively, stating these to be very helpful. Interestingly, challenging thoughts (module 5) was rated only third; however, this was consistent with the previous pilot study by Reeves & Stace (2005).…”

“…Following a previous small‐scale study by Reeves & Stace (2005), this controlled trial was carried out in order to improve the validity of previous results. This study compared a treatment group (TG) with a waiting list control group (CG).…”

Exploring the Efficacy of Cognitive Bibliotherapy and a Potential Mechanism of Change in the Treatment of Depressive Symptoms Among the Chinese: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…In recent years, the stepped-care model proposed by Lovell and Richards (2000) has been given increasing attention (Mains and Scogin 2003;Gregory et al 2004;Reeves and Stace 2005;Williams 2003). In this model, clients with mild to moderate depression may not need such intensive intervention, and may be appropriate targets of level 1 intervention-the less intensive treatments such as bibliotherapy.…”

An evaluation of a collaborative bibliotherapy scheme delivered via a library service

“…2006, Bilich et al . 2008), stress/anxiety (Jones 2002, Reeves & Stace 2005), panic (Febbraro 2005) and lifestyle difficulties, such as problem drinking (Finfgeld 2000) or self‐harm (Evans et al . 1999).…”