The effectiveness of bibliotherapy in alleviating tinnitus-related distress

Title
The effectiveness of bibliotherapy in alleviating tinnitus-related distress
Publication Date
2010
Author(s)
Malouff, John M
Schutte, Nicola
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3294-7659
Email: nschutte@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:nschutte
Bhullar, Navjot
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1616-6094
Email: nbhulla2@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:nbhulla2
Noble, William G
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Elsevier Inc
Place of publication
United States of America
DOI
10.1016/j.jpsychores.2009.07.023
UNE publication id
une:7539
Abstract
Objective: The present study examined the efficacy of bibliotherapy in assisting individuals experiencing distress related to tinnitus. Methods: One hundred sixty-two tinnitus sufferers from Australia participated in a study designed to examine the effectiveness of a cognitive–behaviorally based self-help book in reducing distress. To maximize the ecological validity of the findings, we excluded no individuals interested in treatment for tinnitus-related distress. Results: The experimental condition lost 35% of participants at postassessment, compared to 10% in the control group. In an analysis of participants who completed postintervention assessment, those assigned to the intervention condition, who received a tinnitus self-help book, showed significantly less tinnitus-related distress and general distress 2 months later compared to those assigned to the waiting list control condition. The intervention group's reduction in tinnitus-related distress and general distress from preintervention to postintervention 2 months later was significant, and these participants maintained a significant reduction in distress on follow-up 4 months after they received the tinnitus self-help book. A long-term follow-up of all participants, who at that time had received the book at least a year previously, showed a significant reduction in tinnitus distress. Although these group differences and pre–post changes were significant, effect sizes were small. Intention-to-treat analyses showed no significant effect for between-groups analyses, but did show a significant effect for the 1-year follow-up pre–post analysis. Conclusion: Information on the effectiveness of using a self-help book, without therapist assistance, in alleviating distress is important, as bibliotherapy can provide inexpensive treatment that is not bound by time or place.
Link
Citation
Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 68(3), p. 245-251
ISSN
1879-1360
0022-3999
Start page
245
End page
251

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