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18 - Behavioral Activation

from Part Four - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 January 2022

By
Courtney Colgan ,
Carl W. Lejuez  and
Jessica F. Magidson
Edited by
Gillian Todd  and
Rhena Branch
Gillian Todd
Affiliation:
University of East Anglia
Rhena Branch
Affiliation:
University of East Anglia
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Summary

Behavioral activation (BA) is a brief intervention based on the reinforcement theory of depression that aims to increase an individual’s engagement in rewarding activities as a means to increase response-contingent positive reinforcement. BA has emerged as an empirically supported treatment for depression that is particularly amenable for implementation in diverse clinical contexts. The need for short-term, evidence-based treatments in the era of managed care has contributed to the increasing use of BA worldwide. This chapter provides a historical overview of BA and provides a targeted review of the principles and procedures of a brief, contemporary behavioral activation approach, including recommendations for using this approach in the assessment and treatment of depression, and with individuals with multiple levels of physical and mental health comorbidities.

Keywords

depressionempirically supported treatmentbehavioral activationbrief interventionreinforcement theoryvalues and activitiescomorbidity
Type
Chapter
Information
Evidence-Based Treatment for Anxiety Disorders and Depression
A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Compendium
 , pp. 367 - 382
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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References

Further Recommended Reading

Dimidjian, S., Barrera, M., Martell, C., Muñoz, R. F., & Lewinsohn, P. M. (2011). The origins and current status of behavioral activation treatments for depression. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 7, 1–38.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dimidjian, S., Hollon, S. D., Dobson, K. S., Schmaling, K. B., Kohlenberg, R. J., Addis, M. E., Gallop, R., McGlinchey, J. B., Markley, D. K., Gollan, J. K., Atkins, D. C., Dunner, D. L, & Jacobson, N. S. (2006). Randomized trial of behavioral activation, cognitive therapy, and antidepressant medication in the acute treatment of adults with major depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74(4), 658–670.Google Scholar
Dobson, K. S., Hollon, S. D., Dimidjian, S., Schmaling, K. B., Kohlenberg, R. J., Gallop, R., Rizvi, S. L., Gollan, J. K., Dunner, D. L., & Jacobson, N. S. (2008). Randomized trial of behavioral activation, cognitive therapy, and antidepressant medication in the prevention of relapse and recurrence in major depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76(3), 468–477.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hopko, D. R., Lejuez, C. W., Ruggiero, K. J., & Eifert, G. H. (2003). Contemporary behavioral activation treatments for depression: Procedures, principles, and progress. Clinical Psychology Review, 23(5), 699–717.Google Scholar
Lejuez, C. W., Hopko, D. R., Acierno, R., Daughters, S. B., & Pagoto, S. L. (2011). Ten year revision of the brief behavioral activation treatment for depression: Revised treatment manual. Behavior Modification, 35(2), 111–161.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Richards, D. A., Ekers, D., McMillan, D., Taylor, R. S., Byford, S., Warren, F. C., Barrett, B., Farrand, P. A., Gilbody, S., Kuyken, W., O’Mahen, H., Watkins, E. R., Wright, K. A., Hollon, S. D., Reed, N., Rhodes, S., Fletcher, E., & Finning, K. (2016). Cost and outcome of behavioural activation versus cognitive behavioural therapy for depression (COBRA): A randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial. The Lancet, 388, 871–880.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

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