title: Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioural Self-Help for the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety in People with Long-Term Physical Health Conditions: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depression and anxiety are prevalent comorbidities in people with long-term physical health conditions; however, there is limited access to evidence-based treatments for comorbid mental health difficulties.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study is a meta-analysis examining the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural self-help for physical symptoms, depression and anxiety in people with long-term conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study involves a systematic search of electronic databases supplemented by expert contact, reference and citation checking and grey literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The meta-analysis yielded a small effect size for 11 studies reporting primary outcomes of depression (g = -0.20) and 8 studies anxiety (g = -0.21) with a large effect size (g = -1.14) for 1 study examining physical health symptoms. There were no significant moderators of the main effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Limited evidence supports cognitive behavioural self-help for depression, anxiety and physical symptoms in people with long-term conditions. Small effect sizes for depression and anxiety may result from failure to recruit participants with clinical levels of these difficulties at baseline.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Education, Development and Research (CEDAR), Psychology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK, p.a.farrand@exeter.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Farrand
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Woodford
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*