Books on prescription
Books on prescription helps you manage your wellbeing using self-help reading. The scheme is endorsed by health professionals and supported by public libraries. The books provide helpful information and step-by-step self-help techniques for managing common conditions, including depression and anxiety.
How does books on prescription work?
The self-help books are available for anyone to borrow from their local library. Sometimes shelf-help books may be recommended by a GP, psychological wellbeing practitioner or another health professional as part of treatment.
There are three Books on Prescription lists to choose from:
Reading well for common mental health conditions
Anger
Overcoming Anger and irritability: A Self-help Guide using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques
Davies, William
Constable & Robinson
Anxiety
Overcoming Anxiety: A Self-help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques
Kennerley, Helen
Constable & Robinson
Overcoming Anxiety, stress and Panic: A Five Areas Approach
Williams, Chris
CRC Press
Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway
Jeffers, Susan
Vermilion
Binge eating / bulimia nervosa
Overcoming Binge Eating (new edition - 'Overcoming Binge eating: The Proven Programme to Learn to Learn Why You Binge and How You Can Stop' - available in HB and PB from 30 September 2013)
Fairburn, Christopher
Guilford Press
Getting Better Bit(e) by Bit(e): A Survival Kit for Sufferers of Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorders
Schmidt, Ulrike and Treasure, Janet
Routledge
Overcoming Bulimia nervosa and Binge Eating: A Self-help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques
Cooper, Peter J.
Constable & Robinson
Chronic fatigue
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (second edition)
Campling, Frankie and Sharpre, Michael
Oxford University Press
Overcoming Chronic Fatigue: A Self-help Guide using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques
Burgess, Mary and Chalder, Trudie
Constable & Robinson
Chronic pain
Overcoming Chronic Pain: A Self-help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques
Cole, Frances; Carus, Catherine; Howden-Leach, Hazel: and Macdonald, Helen
Constable & Robinson
Depression
Overcoming Depression and Low Mood: A five Areas Approach (third edition)
Williams, Chris
CRC Press
Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think
Greenberger, Dennis and Padesky, Christine
Guilford Press
Overcoming Depression: A Self-help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques
Gilbert, Paul
Constable & Robinson
Health anxiety
Overcoming Health Anxiety: A Self-help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques
Veale, David and Wilson, Rob
Constable & Robinson
An introduction to Coping with Health Anxiety
Hogan, Brenda and Young, Charles
Constable & Robinson
Obsessions and compulsions
Overcoming Obsessive and Compulsive Disorder: A Self-help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques
Veale, David and Wilson, Rob
Constable & Robinson
Understanding Obsessions and Compulsions
Tallis, Frank
Sheldon Press
Break Free from OCD: Overcoming Compulsive Disorder with CBT
Challacombe, Fiona, Oldfield, Victoria Bream and Salkovskis, Paul M.
Vermilion
Panic
Overcoming Panic and Agoraphobia: A Self-help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques
Silove, derrick and Manicavasagar, Vijaya
Constable & Robinson
Panic Attacks: What They Are, Why They happen and What You Can Do About Them
Ingham, Christine
Harper Collins
Phobias
An Introduction to Coping With Phobias
Hogan, Brenda
Constable & Robinson
Relationship problems
Overcoming relationship Problems: A Self-help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques
Crowe, Michael
Constable & Robinson
Self-esteem
Overcoming Low Self-Esteem: A Self-help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques
Fennell, Melanie
Constable & Robinson
The Feeling Good Handbook
Burns, David
Penguin
Social phobia
Overcoming Social Anxiety and Shyness: A Self-help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques
Butler, Gilian
Constable & Robinson
Sleep problems
Overcoming insomnia and Sleep Problems: A Self-help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques
Espie, Colin A.
Constable & Robinson
Stress
The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook
Davis, Martha
New Harbinger
Manage Your Stress For a Happier Life
Looker, Terry and Gregson, Olga
Hodder
Worry
The Worry Cure: Stop Worrying and Start Living
Leahy, Robert, L.
Piatkus Books
How to Stop Worrying
Tallis, Frank
Sheldon Press
Reading well for dementia
Information and Advice
Introduction to the Psychology of Ageing for Non-specialists
Stuart-Hamilton, Ian
Jessica Kingsley
Coping with Memory Problems
Baxendale, Sallie
Sheldon Press
Alzheimers: Answers at your Fingertips
Bailey, Alex
Class Health
Understanding Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias
Graham, Nori and Warner, James
Family Doctor
ABC of Dementia
Coope, Bernard and Richards, Felicity (eds)
John Wiley
About Dementia: For People with Learning Disabilities
Dodd, Karen; Turk, Vicky and Christmas, Michelle
BILD Publications
Grandma
Shepherd, Jessica
Child's Play International
Living well with dementia
First Steps to Living with Dementia
Atkins, Simon
Lion Books
Dementia Positive
Killick, John
Luath Press
Hearing the Person with Dementia: Person-centred Approaches to Communication for Families and Caregivers
McCarthy, Bernie
Jessica Kingsley
Chocolate Rain: 100 Ideas for a Creative Approach to Activities in Dementia Care
Zoutewelle-Morris, Sarah
Hawker
Pictures to Share (various titles)
Bate, Helen
Pictures to Share
Support for relatives and carers
When Someone You Love Has Dementia
Elliot-Wright, Susan
Sheldon Press
And Still the Music Plays: Stories of People with Dementia
Stokes, Graham
Hawker
Can I Tell You about Dementia? A Guide for Family, Friends and Carers
Welton, Jude
Jessica Kingsley
Dementia: Support for Family and Friends
Pulsford, Dave and Thompson, Rachel
Jessica Kingsley
10 Helpful Hints for Carers: Practical Solutions for Carers Living with People with Dementia
Andrews, June
University of Stirling Dementia Services Development Centre
Seeing Beyond Dementia: A Handbook for Carers with English as a Second Language
Salomon, Rita
Radcliffe Publishing
Personal stories
Dancing with Dementia: My Story of Living Positively with Dementia
Bryden, Christine
Jessica Kingsley
Dear Dementia: The Laughter and the Tears
Donaghy, Ian
Hawker
Still Alice
Genova, Lisa
Simon & Schuster
Losing Clive to Younger Onset Dementia: One Family's Story
Beaumont, Helen
Jessica Kingsley
Telling Tales about Dementia: Experiences of Caring
Whitman, Lucy
Jessica Kingsley
The Little Girl in the Radiator: Mum, Alzheimer's and Me
Slevin, Martin
Monday Books
But Then Something Happened: A Story of Everyday Dementia
Carling, Chris
Golden Books
Reading well for long term conditions
General
How to Feel Better: Practical Ways to Recover Well from Illness and Injury
Goodhart, Frances and Atkins, Lucy
Little Brown
Self-Management of Long-Term Health Conditions
Lorig, Kate (ed.); Holman, Halsted; Sobel, David; Laurent, Diana; Gonzalez, Virginia and Minor, Marian
Bull Publishing
Arthritis
Arthritis: A Practical Guide to Getting On With Your Life
Jenner, Chris
Little Brown
Arthritis: Exercise Your Way to Health
Coates, Paula
Bloomsbury
Bowel Conditions
Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Answers at Your Fingertips
Shmueli, Udi
Class Health
Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Navigating Your Way to Recovery
Arroll, Megan and Dancey, Christine
Hammersmith Books
Go Your Crohn Way
Nicholls, Kathleen
Jessica Kingsley
Breathing difficulties
Asthma: Answers at Your Fingertips
Levy, Mark; Fletcher, Monica and Pederson, Soren
Class Health
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): the Facts
Currie, Graeme P.
Oxford University Press
Diabetes
Diabetes for Dummies
Rubin, Alan L.
Wiley
Diabetes: The Facts
Matthews, David; Meston, Niki; Dyson, Pam; Shaw, Jenny; King, Laurie and Pal, Aparna
Oxford University Press
Type 2 Diabetes in Adults of All Ages (Second Edition)
Fox, Charles and Kilvert, Anne
Class Health
Fatigue
Fighting Fatigue: A Practical Guide to Managing the Symptoms of CFS/ME
Pemberton, Sue and Berry, Catherine
Hammersmith Books
Overcoming Chronic Fatigue
Burgess, Mary and Chalder, Trudie
Little Brown
Heart Disease
Heart Attack Survival Guide
Greener, Mark
Sheldon Press
Living with Angina
Smith, Tom
Sheldon Press
Mental health and wellbeing
Coping With the Psychological Effects of Illness: Strategies to Manage Anxiety and Depression
Jenner, Chris
Little Brown
Mindfulness for Health: A Practical Guide to Relieving Pain, Reducing Stress and Restoring Wellbeing
Burch, Vidyamala and Pennman, Danny
Little Brown
Pain
Manage Your Pain
Nicholas, Michael; Molloy, Allan; Tonkin, Lois and Beeston, Lee
Souvenir Press
Overcoming Chronic Pain
Caros, Catherine; Cole, Frances; Howden-Leach, Hazel and Macdonald, Helen
Little Brown
Pain is Really Strange
Haines, Steve and Standing, Sophie
Jessica Kingsley
Sleep Problems
An Introduction to Coping with Insomnia & Sleep Problems, Second Edition
Colin Espie
Little Brown
Stroke
Stroke: the Facts
Lindley, Richard I.
Oxford University Press
Rebuilding Your Life After Stroke
Morris, Reg; Falck, Malin; Miles, Tamsin; Wilcox, Julie and Fisher-Hicks, Sam
Jessica Kingsley
How I Rescued My Brain: A Psychologist's Remarkable Recovery from Stroke and Trauma
Roland, David
Scribe
Support for relatives and carers
The Carer's Handbook: essential information and support for all those in a caring role
Matthews, Jane
Robinson
The Selfish Pig's Guide to Caring: How to Cope With the Emotional and Practical Aspects of Caring for Someone
Marriott, Hugh
Little Brown
Understanding and Dealing With Heart Disease
Souter, Keith
Summersdale
Go to your local Redbridge library where you can borrow the book for free. If it is not available you can reserve it for free.
Other Reading Well lists
Shelf Help is for young people. It lists books recommended by young people and health experts on topics such as ADHD, bullying, self-harm and mood swings.
Mood-boosting Books is a related scheme. It is a national promotion of uplifting titles, including novels, poetry and non-fiction. The books on this list are all recommended by readers and reading groups.
Ask at your local library for a copy of either of these lists.