The outcome of cognitive bibliotherapy with depressed adults.

The effectiveness of minimal-contact cognitive bibliotherapy was examined with a group of 80 depressed adults who were recruited from the community. Minimal-contact cognitive bibliotherapy was found to be superior to a waiting-list control group. The results were both statistically and clinically significant, and the treatment group maintained their levels of improvement at 3-month follow-up. The results also indicated significant decreases in dysfunctional attitudes and automatic negative thoughts after treatment. It appeared that the treatment also served a psychoeducational function. The interventive and preventive implications of these results are discussed.