Books on Prescription
Several Primary Care Trusts across the country have set up Books on Prescription (BOP) schemes. The schemes were developed following the recommendations in a government report, “Self-help Interventions for Mental Health Problems”, with the aim of cutting waiting lists, reducing the amount of drugs prescribed, and offering an appropriate level of treatment for the majority of people who visit their GP with common mental health problems.
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Books on Prescription schemes are a form of Bibliotherapy, which, when high-quality books are used, can bring many of the benefits of conventional medication without the potential side-effects associated with drugs, and often achieves good results more quickly. The schemes are usually operated by Trusts in conjunction with local Library services. Check this list to see if a scheme operates in your area: BOP Schemes.
We have listed thirty of the most popular books used by the Books on Prescription schemes. These books have been written as self-help books but can also be read with a mental health practitioner. If you think one of them might help you, ask for more information at your GP's surgery.
Anxiety and stress
The Feeling Good Handbook
David D. Burns, Plume
Discusses how to overcome fears, phobias and panic attacks, improve intimate communication, and cope with anxiety disorders; includes information about commonly prescribed psychiatric drugs.
Buy from Amazon RRP £14.99
Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway
Susan Jeffers, Vermilion
Provides the insight and tools to vastly improve the reader’s ability to handle any given situation, helping them move from a place of pain, paralysis and depression to one of power, energy and enthusiasm.
Buy from Amazon RRP £6.99
How to Stop Worrying
Frank Tallis, Sheldon Press
Examines the causes of worrying, including long-term worries, helps find and solve the problems that lead to worrying.
Buy from Amazon RRP £6.99
Teach Yourself: Managing Stress
Terry Looker & Olga Gregson, Teach Yourself
A practical guide to stress management that gives advice on assessing and identifying stress, and on developing a personal stress management plan.
Buy from Amazon RRP £9.99
Overcoming Anxiety
Helen Kennerley, Robinson
A guide explaining how to overcome problem fears and anxieties of all kinds – from panic attacks and phobias to executive "burn out" – in order to regain confidence and self control. A step-by-step self-help plan is included.
Buy from Amazon RRP £9.99
Overcoming Anxiety: A Five Areas Approach
Chris Williams, Hodder Arnold
Written with clarity, this set of workbooks is well-structured and easily accessible; the boxes, checklists, bullet points and lack of jargon all aid those experiencing mild to moderate levels of anxiety and panic.
Buy from Amazon RRP £19.99
Panic Attacks
Christine Ingham, HarperCollins
Contains a broad range of topics including: what to do during a panic attack; what's happening during an attack; self-help to prevent attacks from developing; information for friends and relatives about panic attacks lifestyle, therapies and complementary therapies.
Buy from Amazon RRP £7.99
The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook
Martha Davis, Elizabeth Robbins Eshelman & Matthew McKay, New Harbinger Publications
Each chapter of this workbook, wqritten in a reader-friendly format, follows a practical format, including a history of the technique covered, symptom effectiveness, examples, checklist, further reading and "homework".
Buy from Amazon RRP £16.99
Overcoming Social Anxiety and Shyness
Gillian Butler, Robinson
Outlines the nature of shyness, the symptoms and possible causes and explains how to deal with upsetting thoughts, overcome avoidance and manage symptoms of anxiety through relaxation, distraction and panic management.
Buy from Amazon RRP £9.99
Overcoming Panic
Derrick Silove and Vijaya Manicavasagar, Robinson
A complete course to help the reader beat panic attacks and the stresses they cause. The authors, who have researched and taught self-help therapy, describe clinically-proven CBT techniques to manage panic.
Buy from Amazon RRP £9.99
Depression
Overcoming Depression
Paul Gilbert, Robinson
A self-help guide using CBT, this book is full of step-by-step suggestions, case examples and practical ideas for gaining control over depression and low mood; it is an indispensable guide for those affected, their friends and families, psychologists and those working in the medical profession.
Buy from Amazon RRP £9.99
Overcoming Depression and Low Mood: A Five Areas Approach
Chris Williams, Hodder Arnold
A series of short self-help workbooks for use by people experiencing low mood and depression. Provides accessible information and teaches key life skills, giving the reader a practical and effective way to improving how they feel.
Buy from Amazon RRP £19.99
Overcoming Mood Swings
Jan Scott, Robinson
Designed as a self-help manual for those readers who have experienced mood swings, this volume also provides background information on depression and mania and explains how cognitive behavioural therapy can be used to treat emotional disorders by changing negative patterns of thought.
Buy from Amazon RRP £9.99
Mind Over Mood
Christine Padesky & Dennis Greenberger, Guilford Press
This guide draws on the authors' experience as clinicians and teachers of cognitive therapy to help clients successfully understand and improve their moods, alter their behaviour, and enhance their relationships.
Buy from Amazon RRP £16.95
Eating disorders
Anorexia Nervosa: A Survival Guide for Families, Friends and Sufferers
Janet Treasure, Psychology Press
When anorexia nervosa strikes an individual and their family, all concerned are thrown into confusion. This book attempts to answer some of the questions that are asked by everyone.
Buy from Amazon RRP £12.99
Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating
Peter J Cooper, Robinson
Clearly written, this book relates to all aspects of bulimia, and can be read by those suffering from the illness as well as those striving to understand its complexities.
Buy from Amazon RRP &9.99
Getting Better Bit(e), By Bit(e): A Survival Guide for Sufferers of Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorders
Ulrike Schmidt & Janet Treasure, Psychology Press
This self-help book, whose efficacy has been proven in clinical trials, empowers sufferers to take control of their own lives and tackle their eating difficulties in their own home.
Buy from Amazon RRP £12.95
Overcoming Anorexia Nervosa
Christopher Freeman & Peter Cooper, Robinson
This is a complete self-help recovery programme to overcome anorexia using cognitive therapy techniques that have been tried and tested for many years and shown conclusively to work.
Buy from Amazon RRP £9.99
Overcoming Binge Eating
Christopher Fairburn, Robinson
Virtually two books in one, Overcoming Binge Eating provides all the information needed both to understand the problem and bring it under control.
Buy from Amazon RRP £13.50
Low Self-esteem
Overcoming Low Self Esteem
Melanie Fennell, Robinson
Helps readers to understand their condition, and, armed with this understanding, to break out of the vicious circle of negative self-image, learn the art of accepting themselves, and alter their lives for the better.
Buy from Amazon RRP £9.99
Self Esteem: Simple Steps to Develop Self-Worth and Heal Emotional Wounds
Gael Lindenfield, HarperCollins
A practical program to make the reader feel more energized and self-reliant than ever before; and ultimately, overcome their doubts and fears to achieve self-fulfilment.
Buy from Amazon RRP £7.99
10 Days to Great Self-Esteem
David Burns, Vermilion
Easy to read, and presented in a compassionate style, 10 Days to Great Self Esteem encourages the reader to believe they really can make a change. The author uses a set of practical tools and a solution-focused approach to achieve this.
Buy from Amazon RRP £12.99
Self Esteem For Women: A Practical Guide to Love, Intimacy and Sex
Lynda Field, Vermilion
This guide shows how, by using a mixture of visualization techniques, positive affirmations and a five-step programme for change, women can change their lives, learning to believe in themselves, increase their self-esteem, succeed in love and enjoy their personal power.
Buy from Amazon RRP £6.99
A Woman In Your Own Right: Assertiveness and You
Anne Dickson & Kate Charlesworth, Quartet Books
Although it affirms women’s rights to be confident and assertive, the message of this book is not overpowering and does not impinge on its overall feel. It details some really useful techniques for improving assertiveness and confidence which could be used for both men and women.
Buy from Amazon RRP £6.00
OCD
Overcoming Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
David Veale & Rob Willson, Robinson
This accessible guide, based on cognitive behavioural therapy techniques, explains how readers can reduce the distress of intrusive thoughts, face fears and avoided situations, and overcome compulsions.
Buy from Amazon RRP £9.99
Understanding Obsessions and Compulsions
Frank Tallis, Sheldon Press
A comprehensive guide to self-help, explaining the principles of anxiety reduction and giving treatment instructions in easy-to-understand language.
Buy from Amazon RRP £7.99
Other topics
Beginning to Heal
Ellen Bass & Laura Davis, HarperPerennial
Provides words of inspiration to those healing from childhood sexual abuse, giving explanations of each stage of the healing journey, practical ideas, and first-person accounts.
Buy from Amazon
Breaking Free: Child Sexual Abuse (Adult Survivors)
Carolyn Ainscough & Kay Toon, Sheldon Press
Designed to help survivors of child sexual abuse, the book includes discussion of false memory syndrome and female abusers, and draws on accounts of survivors who want their voices to be heard, offering a positive and optimistic approach to help survivors break free from the past.
Buy from Amazon RRP £14.99
Managing Anger: Simple Steps to Dealing With Frustration and Threat
Gael Lindenfield, HarperCollins
Explains the effects of anger on our minds and bodies, and suggests ways of dealing with both our own anger and that of other people.
Buy from Amazon RRP £8.99
Overcoming Anger And Irritability
William Davies, Robinson
A self-help manual for those who find they are spoiling the lives of both themselves and those around them by constantly being irritable and angry.
Buy from Amazon RRP £9.99
Overcoming Sexual Problems
Vicki Ford, Robinson
The book provides simple techniques based on cognitive behavioural therapy that can restore confidence and bring about a mutually satisfying and fulfilling sex life for both partners.
Buy from Amazon RRP £9.99