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A transdiagnostic self-help guide for anxiety: two preliminary controlled trials in subclinical student samples

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 January 2011

Clare Dixon ,
Warren Mansell ,
Elizabeth Rawlinson  and
Alisha Gibson
Clare Dixon
Affiliation:
School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, UK
Warren Mansell*
Affiliation:
School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, UK
Elizabeth Rawlinson
Affiliation:
School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, UK
Alisha Gibson
Affiliation:
School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, UK
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr W. Mansell, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, School of Psychological Sciences, Coupland I, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. (email: warren.mansell@manchester.ac.uk)
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Abstract

Self-help therapies, such as bibliotherapy, are becoming increasingly more available to the general population as a treatment for psychological disorders, such as depression and anxiety. However, relatively few of these self-help books are properly evaluated to test their treatment efficacy. Two studies aimed to test a new self-help book to treat fears, phobias and anxiety in order to see if symptoms of anxiety and associated symptoms, such as functioning and coping, were improved compared to baseline scores and a waiting-list control group. Study 1 adopted a minimal guided approach (experimental group: n = 25; waiting-list control group: n = 29) whereas Study 2 adopted a non-guided approach (experimental group: n = 17; waiting-list control group: n = 16). In both studies, functioning and coping were improved and the current state of phobic symptoms was reduced. The main phobia improved only when adopting a guided approach and general psychological distress only reduced when adopting a non-guided approach. These studies provide preliminary support for a modest effect in a subclinical population. The results could have good implications for the treatment of anxiety and the use of self-help methods as an additional treatment aid or as a preventative treatment.

Keywords

Anxietyanxiety disorderscognitive behaviour therapycommon factorscontrolself-help
Type
Original Research
Information
the Cognitive Behaviour Therapist , Volume 4 , Issue 1 , March 2011 , pp. 1 - 15
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2011

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References

Recommended follow-up reading

Harvey, AG, Watkins, E, Mansell, W, Shafran, R (2004). Cognitive Behavioural Processes Across Psychological Disorders: A Transdiagnostic Approach to Research and Treatment. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mansell, W (2007). Coping with Fear and Phobias: A Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding and Facing Your Anxieties. Oxford, UK: OneWorld Publications.Google Scholar

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