Self-help books have emerged as a multimillion-dollar-per-year industry, and 85% of American psychologists report recommending self-help books to their patients. Even more people turn to self-help books on their own, as a cost-effective, convenient, and less stigmatizing alternative to professional therapy, most commonly for problems relating to depression, anxiety, or psychological trauma.
In a groundbreaking study published this month in Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, a leading scientific and professional journal of the American Psychological Association, a team of American researchers (from Chapman University, Drexel University, and Brown University Medical School) report the results of a comprehensive study of the scientific validity and usefulness of the 50 top-selling self-help books for anxiety (including phobias, compulsions, panic attacks), depressive (including depression and bipolar disorder), and trauma-related disorders (e.g., posttraumatic stress). The researchers developed a scientific scale for assessing self-help books based on the degree to which they are grounded in modern medical and psychological science, whether they offer potentially harmful advice, and whether the advice provided was in a form that consumers could actually use.
The article lists the 50 top-selling self-help books for anxiety, depression, or psychological trauma, listed in order of overall quality, as assessed by the study.
1. The OCD Workbook, written by Hyman, B.M.
2. Dying of Embarrassment, by Markway, B.
3. The Shyness & Social Anxiety Workbook, by Antony, M.M.
4. Overcoming Compulsive Hoarding, by Neziroglu, F.
5. Stop Obsessing, by Foa, E.B.
6. The Cyclothymia Workbook, by Prentiss, P.
7. Bipolar Disorder Demystified, by Castle, L.R.
8. Feeling Good, by Burns, D.D.
9. Overcoming Compulsive Checking, by Hyman, B.M.
10. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, by Penzel, F.
The study’s results suggest guidelines for consumers and mental health professionals to follow when selecting self-help books. The best books were those offering a “cognitive-behavioral” approach to treatment (emphasizing concrete ways to change thoughts and behaviors as a way of changing mood and improving psychological functioning), those written by mental health professionals holding a doctoral degree (e.g., Ph.D. or M.D.), and those focusing on specific problems (rather than offering a single treatment for many problems). The best books also provide specific guidance not only for implementing the self-help techniques but also for monitoring progress and dealing with treatment setbacks.
The researchers identified a number of books that, despite being immensely popular and selling millions of copies, are not grounded in modern scientific and medical knowledge (40% of books), contain greatly exaggerated claims of effectiveness (32% of books), fail to provide readers with reasonable expectations about the benefits that could be expected (58% of books), or fail to provide readers with guidance about seeking professional help when needed (56% of books). Only 36% of books provided proper guidance for the reader to self-diagnose, to even know whether the self-help book was appropriate for their symptoms or problems.
Particularly troubling, eighteen percent of books provided advice that may be harmful, according to the latest medical evidence, while other books offer treatments that have been found to be ineffective. Some popular books claim that problems are caused by blockages in the body’s invisible energy system and offer a complete cure through “thought-field therapy,” which involves tapping on specific parts of the body in a particular sequence, even though research shows this to be ineffective. Other books offer thought stopping and other distraction techniques, which research shows may only exacerbate symptoms. Other books promote the erroneous idea that traumatic memories are often unconsciously repressed and that certain symptoms are an indication of abuse even when the person has no memory of a traumatic event. Still others promote unproven and sometimes dangerous herbal remedies.
The study is reported in: Richard E. Redding, James D. Herbert, Evan M. Forman, & Brandon A. Gaudiano. (2008). Popular Self-Help Books for Anxiety, Depression, and Trauma: How Scientifically Grounded and Useful Are They? Professional Psychology: Research & Practice, 39(5), 537-545.
In a groundbreaking study published this month in Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, a leading scientific and professional journal of the American Psychological Association, a team of American researchers (from Chapman University, Drexel University, and Brown University Medical School) report the results of a comprehensive study of the scientific validity and usefulness of the 50 top-selling self-help books for anxiety (including phobias, compulsions, panic attacks), depressive (including depression and bipolar disorder), and trauma-related disorders (e.g., posttraumatic stress). The researchers developed a scientific scale for assessing self-help books based on the degree to which they are grounded in modern medical and psychological science, whether they offer potentially harmful advice, and whether the advice provided was in a form that consumers could actually use.
The article lists the 50 top-selling self-help books for anxiety, depression, or psychological trauma, listed in order of overall quality, as assessed by the study.
1. The OCD Workbook, written by Hyman, B.M.
2. Dying of Embarrassment, by Markway, B.
3. The Shyness & Social Anxiety Workbook, by Antony, M.M.
4. Overcoming Compulsive Hoarding, by Neziroglu, F.
5. Stop Obsessing, by Foa, E.B.
6. The Cyclothymia Workbook, by Prentiss, P.
7. Bipolar Disorder Demystified, by Castle, L.R.
8. Feeling Good, by Burns, D.D.
9. Overcoming Compulsive Checking, by Hyman, B.M.
10. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, by Penzel, F.
The study’s results suggest guidelines for consumers and mental health professionals to follow when selecting self-help books. The best books were those offering a “cognitive-behavioral” approach to treatment (emphasizing concrete ways to change thoughts and behaviors as a way of changing mood and improving psychological functioning), those written by mental health professionals holding a doctoral degree (e.g., Ph.D. or M.D.), and those focusing on specific problems (rather than offering a single treatment for many problems). The best books also provide specific guidance not only for implementing the self-help techniques but also for monitoring progress and dealing with treatment setbacks.
The researchers identified a number of books that, despite being immensely popular and selling millions of copies, are not grounded in modern scientific and medical knowledge (40% of books), contain greatly exaggerated claims of effectiveness (32% of books), fail to provide readers with reasonable expectations about the benefits that could be expected (58% of books), or fail to provide readers with guidance about seeking professional help when needed (56% of books). Only 36% of books provided proper guidance for the reader to self-diagnose, to even know whether the self-help book was appropriate for their symptoms or problems.
Particularly troubling, eighteen percent of books provided advice that may be harmful, according to the latest medical evidence, while other books offer treatments that have been found to be ineffective. Some popular books claim that problems are caused by blockages in the body’s invisible energy system and offer a complete cure through “thought-field therapy,” which involves tapping on specific parts of the body in a particular sequence, even though research shows this to be ineffective. Other books offer thought stopping and other distraction techniques, which research shows may only exacerbate symptoms. Other books promote the erroneous idea that traumatic memories are often unconsciously repressed and that certain symptoms are an indication of abuse even when the person has no memory of a traumatic event. Still others promote unproven and sometimes dangerous herbal remedies.
The study is reported in: Richard E. Redding, James D. Herbert, Evan M. Forman, & Brandon A. Gaudiano. (2008). Popular Self-Help Books for Anxiety, Depression, and Trauma: How Scientifically Grounded and Useful Are They? Professional Psychology: Research & Practice, 39(5), 537-545.
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