BACKGROUND: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy self-help has been recommended in the NICE guidelines for the treatment of anxiety and depression. However, little is known about who benefits from self-help and the potential drawbacks and problems of using this approach. AIMS: To address the current gap in knowledge, we contacted accredited BABCP practitioners to examine practitioner use and attitudes to self-help, current trends of use, and to identify possible problems with this therapy. METHOD: A 50% random sample of all accredited BABCP practitioners was approached, and the overall response rate for the survey was 57.6%. RESULTS: Self-help materials were seen positively by therapists and were used by 99.6%, mainly as an adjunct to individual therapy. Only 38.2% had been trained in the use of self-help, with those trained being more likely to recommend self-help. Higher levels of patient motivation, credibility, likely adherence, self-efficacy and a lower degree of hopelessness were the five factors identified by more than 70% of respondents as predicting successful patient outcome with self-help. Non-compliance and a lack of detection of a worsening of the patient's clinical state due to reduced therapist contact were viewed as being the most important problems with self-help by more than 70% of respondents. CONCLUSIONS: Preferable patient characteristics for self-help have been identified, as have potential problems and adverse consequences.
BACKGROUND: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy self-help has been recommended in the NICE guidelines for the treatment of anxiety and depression. However, little is known about who benefits from self-help and the potential drawbacks and problems of using this approach. AIMS: To address the current gap in knowledge, we contacted accredited BABCP practitioners to examine practitioner use and attitudes to self-help, current trends of use, and to identify possible problems with this therapy. METHOD: A 50% random sample of all accredited BABCP practitioners was approached, and the overall response rate for the survey was 57.6%. RESULTS: Self-help materials were seen positively by therapists and were used by 99.6%, mainly as an adjunct to individual therapy. Only 38.2% had been trained in the use of self-help, with those trained being more likely to recommend self-help. Higher levels of patient motivation, credibility, likely adherence, self-efficacy and a lower degree of hopelessness were the five factors identified by more than 70% of respondents as predicting successful patient outcome with self-help. Non-compliance and a lack of detection of a worsening of the patient's clinical state due to reduced therapist contact were viewed as being the most important problems with self-help by more than 70% of respondents. CONCLUSIONS: Preferable patient characteristics for self-help have been identified, as have potential problems and adverse consequences.
Authors: Sarah E Knowles; Karina Lovell; Peter Bower; Simon Gilbody; Elizabeth Littlewood; Helen Lester Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2015-11-30 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Hilde P A van der Aa; Ger H M B van Rens; Hannie C Comijs; Judith E Bosmans; Tom H Margrain; Ruth M A van Nispen Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2013-08-09 Impact factor: 3.630
Authors: Kjersti R Lillevoll; Maja Wilhelmsen; Nils Kolstrup; Ragnhild Sørensen Høifødt; Knut Waterloo; Martin Eisemann; Mette Bech Risør Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2013-06-20 Impact factor: 5.428