The Effect of a Bibliotherapy Program on Positive Mental Health Among Psychiatric Inpatients

Patients hospitalized in psychiatric clinics may experience high levels of psychologicaldistress due to both social isolation and the challenges of the hospital environment.This can negatively impact patients' adherence to treatment and recovery processes.Therefore, in addition to symptom reduction, effective and applicable interventions thatsupport patients' positive mental health (e.g., self‐esteem, social connection, andpsychological resilience) are needed. Recent research has shown that bibliotherapyprovides significant benefits for inpatients. Bibliotherapy is a method that aims toimprove the psychological health of individuals through structured reading materials.Studies have shown significant reductions in psychiatric symptoms such as depression,anxiety, and stress in patients undergoing bibliotherapy. In particular, specific studiesconducted on inpatients have observed that bibliotherapy not only alleviates symptoms butalso increases positive mental health components such as self‐efficacy and psychologicalresilience. Bibliotherapy programs help patients better understand themselves, expresstheir emotions in a safe environment, and improve their empathy skills. Bibliotherapy,applied in a group format, supports positive psychological functioning by strengtheningsocial interaction and a sense of belonging among patients. This approach holds asignificant place among non‐pharmacological treatment options due to its affordabilityand ease of application. Evidence in the literature shows that bibliotherapy hasshort‐term effects as well as sustainable long‐term gains. For example, a study by Smithet al. found that improvement achieved with bibliotherapy lasted up to three years.Furthermore, meta‐analyses and systematic reviews by Pannu et al. and Boer et al. confirmthat bibliotherapy is an effective complementary method in the treatment of psychiatricdisorders such as depression and anxiety.In light of these literature findings, the aim of this study is to examine the effect ofa bibliotherapy program applied to inpatients in psychiatric clinics on their positivemental health levels. The results are expected to contribute to the widespread adoptionof bibliotherapy in hospital settings and the development of new evidence‐basedintervention programs.