Contents of It's not All in Your Head by Asmundson and Taylor
Contents of It's not All in Your Head by Asmundson and Taylor
Contents of It's not All in Your Head by Asmundson and Taylor
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CBT has been modified to make the treatment more efficient, <strong>in</strong>expensive, <strong>and</strong><br />
expedient. M<strong>in</strong>imal contact therapies (MCs) are effective treatments that reduce the need<br />
for therapy hours with health providers (Mead et al., 2005; Newman, Erickson,<br />
Przeworski, & Dzus, 2003). Guided self-help is an MC where a therapist <strong>in</strong>troduces<br />
bibliotherapy materials <strong>and</strong> the effective use <strong>of</strong> those materials (Mead et al., 2005;<br />
Newman et al., 2003). Cl<strong>in</strong>ical psychologists rout<strong>in</strong>ely provide or suggest self-help<br />
materials to their clients <strong>and</strong> self-help exists for a multitude <strong>of</strong> personal, social, <strong>and</strong><br />
behavioural problems <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g DSM-IV-TR mental disorders (Norcross, 2000).<br />
Individuals can utilize materials alone, with the guidance <strong>of</strong> tra<strong>in</strong>ed pr<strong>of</strong>essionals, or the<br />
materials can be deliberately <strong>in</strong>corporated <strong>in</strong>to psychotherapy <strong>in</strong>terventions (Campbell &<br />
Smith, 2003). For example, psychoeducation, a key component <strong>of</strong> CBT treatments for<br />
health anxiety, can be addressed <strong>in</strong> part us<strong>in</strong>g self-help books or similar materials (Barsky<br />
et al., 2004; Bleichhardt et al., 2005; Bouman, 2002; Wattar et al., 2005).<br />
The research literature supports the use <strong>of</strong> guided self-help <strong>in</strong> the treatment <strong>of</strong><br />
several anxiety disorders (Gould & Clum, 1993; Marrs, 1995). Self-help treatments have<br />
medium to large effect sizes for the reduction <strong>of</strong> fear <strong>and</strong> anxiety (average d = 0.74) <strong>and</strong><br />
the effect sizes may be ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed post-treatment <strong>and</strong> at follow-up (Gould & Clum,<br />
1993; Marrs, 1995). Despite the various methods used, self-help <strong>and</strong> MCs appear to be<br />
valid <strong>and</strong> beneficial treatments for anxiety disorders such as specific phobia, OCD,<br />
generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, <strong>and</strong> mixed anxiety states (Newman<br />
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