Attitudes to and practice of bibliotherapy among senior trainees in psychiatry

This study was to assess the attitudes and practice of, senior psychiatric trainees with regard to bibliotherapy.

A brief online survey was used to assess the attitudes to and practice of bibliotherapy among senior psychiatric trainees in Ireland. There were 34 responses out of 82 (response rate 41.5%). Respondents were asked to indicate their agreement with three statements.

The majority 27 (79.4%) strongly agreed or agreed that they were comfortable recommending books, with none strongly disagreeing and 4 (11.8%) disagreeing. Over half 20 (58.8%) of respondents strongly disagreed or disagreed that self help books could only be a poor substitute for psychotherapy or counselling, with none strongly agreeing and 2 (5.9%) agreeing. Many 19 (55.9%) disagreed or strongly disagreed that self help books could do more harm than good, with 8 (23.5%) agreeing or strongly agreeing. Finally respondents were asked to state their awareness of prescribe-a-book schemes. 4 (11.8%) respondents reported awareness, with 30 (88.2%) unaware of any such schemes.

Although majority of senior psychiatric trainees were comfortable recommending self help books and did not consider them harmful, most were unaware of such schemes in Ireland.