Bibliotherapy as a self management method to treat mild to moderate level of depression

Background: Bibliotherapy can form an integral part of treating depression naturally at primary care level. Bibliotherapy in conjunction with natural remedies for depression can play an effective role in self management of depression. It is the term used to describe the use of self-help books to help those who are experiencing mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety, depression and other common emotional difficulties. Objective: This study was conducted to see its effects on reducing depressive symptoms, hopelessness and suicidal ideation on depressive patients. Method: With purposive sampling method 12 patients of depression without psychotic symptoms (6 patients in experimental group and 6 patients in control group) were taken from psychiatric OPD. The total duration of the study was three months. Assessment was done six times an interval of 15 days. Result: Subjects in the Bibliotherapy group had significantly less depressive symptoms, hopeless and suicidal ideation than those in the control group at the end of three months. Conclusion: Bibliotherapy is effective as an adjunct to psychotherapy in the management of depressive patients.