Impact of Self-Help Schema Therapy on Psychological Distress and Early Maladaptive Schemas: A Randomised Controlled Trial. Issue 1 (4th March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Priemer, Margaret; Talbot, France; French, Douglas J.
• Is Part Of: Behaviour change. Volume 32:Issue 1(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 59
• Page End: 73
• Publication Date: 2015-03-04
• Subjects: Behavior therapy -- Periodicals; Behavior modification -- Periodicals; 616.8914205
• DOI: 10.1017/bec.2014.30
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0813-4839

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Self-help cognitive behaviour therapy has been found helpful in treating anxiety and depression. Recent evidence suggests that self-help schema therapy may represent another treatment alternative. The present study aimed to provide a preliminary assessment of the efficacy of self-help schema therapy on psychological distress and early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) using a 6-week treatment protocol with minimal email contact. <italic>Method:</italic> Participants were recruited from the general population and randomly assigned to self-help schema therapy (<italic>n</italic> = 32) or a waitlist (<italic>n</italic> = 32). Intent-to-treat analyses and study completer analyses were conducted using repeated-measures analyses of variance (time × group). <italic>Results:</italic> Intent-to-treat analyses revealed that treatment produced a marginal improvement in distress, but no change in EMSs. Among study completers (<italic>n</italic> = 34), self-help schema therapy yielded large reductions in distress scores on the Outcome Questionnaire-45.2 (partial eta squared = .16). Compared to the waitlist, self-help schema therapy also produced a moderate decrease in EMSs (partial eta squared = .10). The majority of study completers showed reliable clinical change in distress and reported high levels of satisfaction with the intervention. <italic>Conclusion:</italic> Self-help schema therapy may be an effective treatment for those individuals who persist in treatment. Self-help schema therapy has the potential to help a large number of individuals who may not otherwise have access to services. More research is needed to determine variables associated with treatment adherence and successful outcome.</p> </abstract>