Traveling with books: A pilot bibliotherapy laboratory intervention for patients with Alcohol Use Disorder in remission

Journal title MISSION
Author/s Barbara Muzzatti, Monica Vanzella, Marco Dalla Valle, Elisa Simoncioni
Publishing Year 2025 Issue 2025/70
Language Italian Pages 7 P. 26-32 File size 0 KB
DOI 10.3280/mis70-2025oa19814
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Alcohol-related problems, with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) as their most evident clinical manifestation, represent a heterogeneous class of issues with multifactorial etiology and genesis. These conditions benefit from a variety of preventive, therapeutic, and rehabilitative interventions. Bibliotherapy is a supportive intervention that provides patients with carefully selected reading materials. It is used in various clinical and non-clinical settings and appears to be applicable to alcohol-related treatment contexts as well. This study describes a brief bibliotherapy-based intervention, structured as a four-session laboratory, offered to eight patients with AUD in remission. The aim was to introduce or reintroduce participants to a non-stigmatizing diversional activity, facilitate the practice of life and social skills, and enhance self-awareness. Participation was high, and the laboratory was rated as highly useful and enjoyable. All participants reported that the experience was an opportunity for personal growth, both in terms of skill development and self-reflection. Over 70% of the sample indicated that their relationship with reading had changed as a result of the intervention, while 100% stated they had learned something new about reading. In conclusion, the proposed bibliotherapy intervention proved to be feasible and well-accepted. It was perceived as engaging and provided opportunities for personal empowerment, social and life skills development, and an appreciation of reading as a valuable and accessible activity.

Keywords: ; Adults; Alcoholism; Alcohol use disorder; Bibliotherapy; Psycho-social rehabilitation

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Barbara Muzzatti, Monica Vanzella, Marco Dalla Valle, Elisa Simoncioni, In viaggio con i libri: un intervento pilota di laboratorio di biblioterapia per pazienti con disturbo da uso di alcol in remissione in "MISSION" 70/2025, pp 26-32, DOI: 10.3280/mis70-2025oa19814