Effectiveness of self-help materials for anxiety adapted for use in prison – a pilot study

Abstract

Background: Self-help materials can be effective for anxiety and depression in community settings, but there is little research on their use in prisons.

Aim: A pilot study to investigate the effectiveness of self-help materials for the treatment of anxiety and depression in an adult male prison population.

Method: Participants were assigned to the depression or anxiety group depending on their symptom profile. Within these groups they were randomly assigned to the intervention (received self-help immediately) or waiting list control group (received self-help after 4 weeks). Participants completed self-report outcome measures at baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks.

Results: For most of the prisoners referred into the study, anxiety, not depression, was their predominant symptom. The study suggests that prisoners can receive at least short-term benefits in anxiety reduction through a self-help booklet delivered in a healthcare setting. The effect size of the anxiety booklet intervention was large.

Conclusions: Self-help materials are a promising approach for people with anxiety problems in a custodial setting. Further studies are necessary to expand upon these pilot data.

Keywords:

• Mental health
• prison
• self-help materials
• anxiety
• depression