Effectiveness of quality of life therapy for depression.

A bibliotherapy outcome study was conducted to assess the efficacy of Quality of Life. Therapy for depression. Sixteen clinically depressed community volunteers who showed an aptitude for and interest in bibliotherapy and were not suffering from other disorders met weekly to discuss a manual on Quality of Life Therapy. All subjects who completed treatment were reclassified as nondepressed and showed significant increases in quality of life and self-efficacy at the end of treatment. All but one subject maintained these improvements at a follow-up assessment. The potential for increasing the improvement rate of a treatment by matching patients to treatment modalities that fit their aptitudes, skills, and interests is discussed.