Reading about self-help books on cognitive–behavioural therapy for anxiety disorders

Abstract

Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) emerged in the 1970s and ’80s as an im- perfect amalgam of cognitive and beha- vioural therapy, and is by its very nature a changing entity. Today it means something very different than it did a generation ago. Alongside the development of CBT has been the change in self-help books that use CBT principles. Books concerned with the treatment of anxiety are a prime example of this evolution. There is now a huge range of self-help materials to choose from, and both service users and professionals can find the choice over- whelming. Here I select some of the more pertinent, popular and helpful publica- tions. First I describe some data from service users which provide their perspective, then I describe the properties of a good self-help guide and give some examples. I end with recommendations for further relevant self-help resources. Readers’