Bibliotherapy: a critique of the literature.

Most of the literature on bibliotherapy has been nonscientific, because of the too broad use of the term "bibliotherapy." The author proposes, for the sake of clarification in the literature, that "bibliotherapy" be defined as a program of selected activity involving reading materials which is planned, conducted, and controlled under the guidance of a physician as treatment for psychiatric patients and which uses, if needed, the assistance of a trained librarian. Bibliotherapy, then, falls into three categories: books prescribed for a patient, books selected by a patient, and group discussion of books. Bibliotherapy may be helpful by facilitating abreaction, projection, narcissistic gratification, verbalization, constructive thinking between interviews, and reinforcement of social and cultural patterns. Bibliotherapy is probably indicated in self-motivated neurotic patients who ask for helpful reading materials. Bibliotherapy offers no panacea, but with proper scientific study may help many patients.