PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - P Donnan AU - A Hutchinson AU - R Paxton AU - B Grant AU - M Firth TI - Self-help materials for anxiety: a randomized controlled trial in general practice. DP - 1990 Dec 01 TA - British Journal of General Practice PG - 498--501 VI - 40 IP - 341 4099 - http://bjgp.org/content/40/341/498.short 4100 - http://bjgp.org/content/40/341/498.full SO - Br J Gen Pract1990 Dec 01; 40 AB - The efficacy of a self-help package in treating chronic anxiety was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial in which the intervention group received self-help materials in the form of an audiotape and booklet, in addition to their current treatment. The intervention was successful in terms of mean depression scores (P = 0.01), anxiety scores (P = 0.04) and general health questionnaire scores (P = 0.02) which were significantly lower for the intervention group than for the controls. In addition, the depression scores fell faster for the intervention group than for the controls. The overall mean reduction in three months in adjusted depression scores was approximately two points greater for the intervention group than for the controls (P = 0.02). Clinicians welcomed the package as a valuable addition to the therapies available for managing chronic anxiety problems. Further studies should include larger sample sizes, taking into account the non-response to postal questionnaires over time.