Behavioral Bibliotherapy: Theoretical and Methodological Issues in Outcome Research into Self-Help Programs

摘要: Although the term “bibliotherapy” probably smacks of contemporary “psychobabble”, like technique to which it refers, has a lengthy history. It first appeared in Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary 1941 and was defined as ‘the employment books reading them treatment nervous diseases’ — definition expanded twenty years later include physical disorders. The therapeutic use value have been recognised since ancient times. Tews (1970) reports that libraries three millennia bore inscription Greek, ‘Medicine (or remedy) for soul’, she notes records early Roman encyclopaedists ‘leave little doubt were made serve curative objectives, particularly emotionally disturbed patient’ (p.173) sixteenth century Rabelais (1494–1553) prescribed literature his patients part their (Schneck, 1944). Of course, theoretical rationale changed throughout Originally, emphasis mainly on act itself, with material considered more source moral intellectual sustenance rather than medium directive guidance.