Comparative efficacy of cognitive and behavioral bibliotherapy for mildly and moderately depressed older adults

The efficacy of bibliotherapy for mildly and moderately depressed older adults was examined. Cognitive bibliotherapy and behavioral bibliotherapy were compared with a delayed-treatment control condition. Results indicate that the two experimental conditions were superior to the control condition, but that the cognitive and behavioral bibliotherapies were nondifferentially efficacious. Sixty-six percent of the subjects demonstrated clinically significant change. There were no specific effects associated with either the cognitive or the behavioral interventions. Treatment gains were maintained at 6-month follow-up. The implications of bibliotherapy for geriatric depression as an alternative or adjunct to traditional treatments are discussed.