Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T18:20:25.890Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Can People Read Self-Help Manuals for Depression? A Challenge for the Stepped Care Model and Book Prescription Schemes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2007

Rebeca Martinez ,
Graeme Whitfield ,
Rebecca Dafters  and
Christopher Williams
Rebeca Martinez
Affiliation:
University of Glasgow, UK
Graeme Whitfield
Affiliation:
Consultant Psychiatrist in Psychotherapy, Leicester, UK
Rebecca Dafters
Affiliation:
Clinical Psychologist, Ayr, UK
Christopher Williams*
Affiliation:
University of Glasgow, UK
*
Reprint requests to Christopher Williams, Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Glasgow, The Academic Centre, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, 1055 Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 0XH, UK. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Self help approaches are increasingly being used in healthcare settings through over 100 book prescription schemes in the UK. The use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) self-help materials for depression is advocated as part of stepped care service models. This study assesses how the reading ages of the most recommended self-help books for depression compare to British literacy levels. A cross sectional survey was carried out. The most recommended self-help books for depression were identified; seven CBT based self-help books were included in this study as well as a widely used booklet for depression. Readability scores and reading ages were calculated for a randomly generated selection representing 15% of each selected book using the Readability Studio® software to generate a wide range of key readability and comprehension scores. The reading ages of the selected books were between 12.6 and 15.4. Reading ease varied amongst the texts, and their complexity (percentage of unfamiliar words, range: 14.8% – 22.6%). A significant proportion of the UK population would struggle to use some of the current CBT-based self-help books recommended. For some patient groups, non text based self-help materials as well as shorter and more easily read written materials may be more appropriate. To our knowledge, this is the first study to address this question. Publication of the reading ages of the recommended books within the book prescription schemes may allow for a more accurate match between the book and the reader.

Keywords

Self-helpcognitive behaviour therapystepped carereadabilitysurveyclinical practicebibliotherapydepression
Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 36 , Issue 1 , January 2008 , pp. 89 - 97
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Anderson, L., Lewis, G., Araya, R., Elgie, R., Harrison, G., Proudfoot, J., Schmidt, U., Sharp, D., Weightman, A. and Williams, C. (2005). Self-help books for depression: how can practitioners make the right choice? British Journal of General Practice, 55, 387–392.Google ScholarPubMed
Beck, A. T., Shaw, B. F., Rush, J. A. and Emery, G. (1979). Cognitive Therapy of Depression. New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Blackburn, I. (1987). Coping with Depression. Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Burns, D. D. (1980). Feeling Good: the new mood therapy. New York: Avon Books.Google Scholar
Burns, D. D. (1999). The Feeling Good Handbook (Rev. ed.). New York: Plume.Google Scholar
Butler, G. and Hope, T. (1995). Manage Your Mind. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Chall, J. S. and Dale, E. (1995). Readability Revisited: the new Dale-Chall readability formula. Cambridge, MA: Brookline Books.Google Scholar
Cuijpers, P. (1997). Bibliotherapy in unipolar depression: a meta-analysis. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 28, 139–147.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Duman, M. (2003). Producing Patient Information: how to research, develop and produce effective information resources (2nd ed). London: King's Fund.Google Scholar
Farrand, P. (2005). Development of a supported self-help book prescription scheme in primary care. Primary Care Mental Health, 3, 61–66.Google Scholar
Farrand, P. (2007). Personal communication.Google Scholar
Flesch, R. (1979). How to Write in Plain English. www.mang.canterbury.ac.uk/courseinfo/academicwriting/flesch.htm.Google Scholar
Gellatly, J., Bower, P., Hennessy, S., Richards, D., Gilbody, S. and Lovell, K. (2007). What makes self help interventions effective in the management of depressive symptoms? Meta analysis and meta regression. Psychological Medicine, 37, 1217–1228.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gilbert, P. (1997). Overcoming Depression. London: Robinson Publishing Limited.Google Scholar
Greenberger, D. and Padesky, C. A. (1995). Mind over Mood. New York: The Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Johnson, C. K. and Johnson, R. K. (1987). Readability. School Science Review, 239, 565–568.Google Scholar
Jones, M. and Shoemaker, P. (1994). Accounting narratives: a review of empirical studies of content and readability. Journal of Accounting Literature, 13, 142–184.Google Scholar
Jorm, A. F., Korten, A. E., Jacomb, P. A., Rodgers, B., Pollitt, P., Christensen, H. and Henderson, S. (1997). Helpfulness of interventions for mental disorders: beliefs of health professionals compared with the general public. British Journal of Psychiatry, 171, 233–237.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Keeley, H., Williams, C. J. and Shapiro, D. (2002). A United Kingdom survey of accredited cognitive behaviour therapists' attitudes towards and use of structured self-help materials. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 30, 191–201.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meade, C. and Smith, C. F. (1991). Readability formulas: cautions and criteria. Patient Education and Counseling, 17, 153–158.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mudd, N. (1987). Influences of the text and the reader's background knowledge upon responses to comprehension questions. Reading, 21, 125–134.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
National Literacy Trust(2000). Literacy Standards in the Western World [online] http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/database.Google Scholar
National Literacy Trust (2007). National Reading Campaign, National Literacy Trust, Swire House, 59 Buckingham Gate, London, SW1E 6AJ. Personal communication.Google Scholar
Newcastle North Tyneside and Northumberland Mental Health NHS Trust (2001). Depression and Low Mood: a self-help guide. Newcastle: Department of Design and Communication.Google Scholar
News Roundup (2003). Coverage of introduction of book prescription schemes. British Medical Journal, 326, 1285.Google Scholar
NICE (2004). Depression: management of depression in primary and secondary care. London: National Institute for Clinical Excellence CG23 – www.nice.org.uk.Google Scholar
Oleander Solutions(2007). Readability Studio [online] http://www.oleandersolutions.com/readabilitystudio.html.Google Scholar
Whitfield, G., Williams, C. J. and Shapiro, D. (2001). An evaluation of a self-help room in a general adult psychiatry service. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 29, 333–343.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, C. J. (2006). Overcoming Depression and Low Mood: a five areas approach (2nd ed.). London: Hodder Arnold.Google Scholar
Williams, C. J. and Garland, A. (2002). A cognitive behavioural therapy assessment model for use in everyday clinical practice. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 8, 172–179.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.