The Cardiff-based pioneer of a mental health self-help scheme that has gone around the world has been honoured by his professional body.

Professor Neil Frude, head of the South Wales Doctoral Programme in Clinical Psychology, is to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for 2014 from the Society's Professional Practice Board. This award is made each year to recognise someone who has made an unusually significant contribution in a career as an applied psychologist.

In 2003 Professor Frude developed the Book Prescription Scheme, under which GPs recommend books from a shortlist of self-help books ratified by psychologists to their patients.

It has developed from a local initiative to a national, government-funded scheme in Wales.

Similar schemes have been set up in other countries, including Denmark and New Zealand. In 2013 a national books on prescription scheme for England was launched by The Reading Agency.

Earlier in his career Professor Frude researched the family and the effects of physical abuse on children. More recently he has taught in universities and on clinical psychology training courses. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society.

In 2004 he appeared a stand-up comedian for 16 nights at the Edinburgh Fringe in his one-man show.