Fiction-reading for good or ill: eating disorders, interpretation and the case for creative bibliotherapy research

Troscianko, Emily T

doi:10.1136/medhum-2017-011375

Cited by 29Art Therapy and Mental HealthMedia Influence and HealthEating Disorders and Behaviors

Fiction-reading for good or ill: eating disorders, interpretation and the case for creative bibliotherapy research

Troscianko, Emily T·2018·Medical Humanities

DOI 10.1136/medhum-2017-011375

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Abstract

Compared with self-help bibliotherapy, little is known about the efficacy of creative bibliotherapy or the mechanisms of its possible efficacy for eating disorders or any other mental health condition. It is clear, however, that fiction is widely used informally as a therapeutic or antitherapeutic tool and that it has considerable potential in both directions, with a possibly significant distinction between the effects of reading fiction about eating disorders (which may—contrary to theoretical predictions—be broadly negative in effect) or one’s preferred genre of other fiction (which may be broadly positive). Research on creative bibliotherapy, especially systematic experimental research, is lacking and requires a medical humanities approach, drawing on knowledge and methods from psychology and cognitive literary studies as well as clinical disciplines to expand our understanding of how the dynamic processes of interpretation mediate between textual structures and characteristics of mental health and illness.

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The evidence base for creative bibliotherapy remains relatively limited.
“However, the evidence base for creative bibliotherapy remains relatively limited.”
From Recent developments in bibliotherapy for adolescent depression (2025) · cites this paper as [27]
Current research and practice in creative bibliotherapy are insufficient in understanding its mechanisms of action.
“Troscianko further pointed out that current research and practice in creative bibliotherapy are still insufficient in understanding its mechanisms of action (27).”
From Recent developments in bibliotherapy for adolescent depression (2025) · cites this paper as [27]
Creative bibliotherapy has a long history yet has received very little research attention and cannot currently be considered an evidence-based treatment.
“so-called creative bibliotherapy-patient reading selected works of fiction, as opposed to self-help material-has a long history yet has received very little research attention (Troscianko 2018) and can therefore not currently be considered an evidencebased treatment.”
From Better, Virtually: the Past, Present, and Future of Virtual Reality Cognitive Behavior Therapy (2021) · cites this paper as Troscianko 2018

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“…of clinical psychology: so-called creative bibliotherapy — patient reading selected works of fiction, as opposed to self-help material — has a long history yet has received very little research attention (Troscianko 2018) and can therefore not currently be considered an evidence-based treatment.”
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Authors: Troscianko, E. T.
Affiliations: University of Oxford (GB)
Corresponding author: Troscianko, Emily T
ORCID: Troscianko, Emily T
Venue: Medical Humanities
Publisher: BMJ
Published: 2018-04-21
Volume: 44
Issue: 3
Pages: 201-211
ISSN: 1468-215X (ISSN-L)
1473-4265
DOI: 10.1136/medhum-2017-011375
OpenAlex: W2801975715
Cited by: 29
References: 94
Citations by year: 2026: 1 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 4
FWCI: 24.25
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Medical Humanities (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Conservation › Art Therapy and Mental Health
Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Literature and Literary Theory › Media Influence and Health
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
Keywords: eating disorders, fiction reading, literary interpretation, mental health, cognitive literary studies
MeSH terms: Feeding and Eating Disorders, Bibliotherapy, Books, Cognition, Creativity, Humans, Literature, Psychiatry, Reading, Research, Comprehension, Narration, Psychiatry in Literature

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Fiction-reading for good or ill: eating disorders, interpretation and the case for creative bibliotherapy research

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