The DOI matches its Crossref record; 14 of the 14 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Why is self-help neglected in the treatment of emotional disorders? A meta-analysis
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although the burden of emotional disorders is very high, mental health care is only available to a minority of patients. The literature suggests that self-help strategies, both bibliotherapy and self-help groups alike, are effective for various, less serious complaints but it is unclear whether available data support a role for self-help in treatment protocols for patients with clinically significant emotional disorders. METHOD: We searched the literature with a focus on 'anxiety' and/or 'depressive disorder'. Standardized assessment of diagnosis or symptoms and randomized controlled trials were inclusion criteria for a meta-analysis. RESULTS: The mean effect size of self-help (mainly bibliotherapy) v. control conditions is 0.84, and 0.76 for follow-up; the effect sizes of self-help v. treatment are -0.03 and -0.07 respectively. A longer treatment period is more effective. CONCLUSIONS: Bibliotherapy for clinically significant emotional disorders is more effective than waiting list or no treatment conditions. The dearth of studies on self-help groups for emotional disorders does not permit an evidence-based conclusion concerning the effects of self-help groups. No difference was found between bibliotherapy and psychiatric treatment of relatively short duration.
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In the citing paper
“Evidence for bibliotherapy is also promising 6 .”
From Self‐Help Plus ( SH +): a new WHO stress management package (2016) · cites this paper as [6]
In the citing paper
“Indeed, studies have found print materials to be effective in improving behaviors and outcomes related to walking and other physical activities [16,17], alcohol problems [18], and emotional disorders [19].”
In the citing paper
“As noted earlier, the effectiveness of print materials for changing health behaviors and outcomes is supported in the literature [16-19].”
Citations
Cites
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Salaberria, K., & Echeburua, E. (1998) · Behavior Modification · doi:10.1177/01454455980223003 · Cited by 68
Effect of social skills training groups and social skills bibliotherapy with psychiatric patients.
Monti, P. M., Fink, E. B., Norman, W. H., Curran, J., Hayes, S. C., & Caldwell, A. (1979) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.47.1.189 · Cited by 56
Cost-effectiveness of substance disorder interventions for people with severe mental illness
Jerrell, J. M., Hu, T.-W., & Ridgely, M. S. (1994) · The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research · doi:10.1007/bf02521335 · Cited by 44
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Self‐Help Epilepsy Groups: An Evaluation of Effect on Depression and Schizophrenia
Becu, M., Becu, N., Manzur, G. B., & Kochen, S. S. (1993) · Epilepsia · doi:10.1111/j.1528-1157.1993.tb02100.x · Cited by 19
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Positive psychology interventions: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies
Bolier, L., Haverman, M., Westerhof, G. J., Riper, H., Smit, F., & Bohlmeijer, E. (2013) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/1471-2458-13-119 · Cited by 1,996
“From a public health perspective, self-help interventions can serve as cost-effective mental health promotion tools to reach large target groups which may not otherwise be reached [86-88].”
Baldwin, D. S., Anderson, I. M., Nutt, D. J., Bandelow, B., Bond, A., Davidson, J. R. T., den Boer, J. A., Fineberg, N. A., Knapp, M., Scott, J., et al. (2005) · Journal of Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1177/0269881105059253 · Cited by 617
Efficacy of peer support interventions for depression: a meta-analysis
Pfeiffer, P. N., Heisler, M., Piette, J. D., Rogers, M. A. M., & Valenstein, M. (2011) · General Hospital Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2010.10.002 · Cited by 484
Sareen, J., Jagdeo, A., Cox, B. J., Clara, I., ten Have, M., Belik, S.-L., de Graaf, R., & Stein, M. B. (2007) · Psychiatric Services · doi:10.1176/ps.2007.58.3.357 · Cited by 470
GELLATLY, J., BOWER, P., HENNESSY, S., RICHARDS, D., GILBODY, S., & LOVELL, K. (2007) · Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/s0033291707000062 · Cited by 419
Metadata
- Authors
- DEN BOER, P. C. A. M., WIERSMA, D., & VAN DEN BOSCH, R. J.
- Affiliations
- University Medical Center Groningen (NL)
- Venue
- Psychological Medicine
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2004-08
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 959-971
- ISSN
- 0033-2917 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-8978
- OpenAlex
- W2149709319
- Cited by
- 220
- References
- 14
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 21.38
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Keywords
- self-help, bibliotherapy, self-help groups, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, emotional disorders, treatment effectiveness, waiting list comparison, psychiatric treatment, treatment duration
- MeSH terms
- Anxiety Disorders, Bibliotherapy, Depressive Disorder, Humans, Self-Help Groups, Treatment Outcome
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