Behavioral Activation for the Treatment of Depression

Behavioral activation as a treatment for unipolar depression has strong support; research has shown the treatment to be both efficacious and effective in reducing depressive symptoms and increases the likelihood of successful treatment outcomes. Behavioral activation is used by some clinicians, and cited by researchers, for its simplicity and ease of implementation. Behavioral activation is grounded in the idea that an individual who is no longer receiving positive reinforcement from his or her environment will enter a cycle of depressive mood and lack of engagement in his or her social environment. Behavioral activation treatment focuses on engaging individuals in more pleasurable activities, increasing their sense of mastery and competency and improving their overall mood.

LINKS

https://www.div12.org/PsychologicalTreatments/treatments/depression_behavior.html

http://apt.rcpsych.org/content/14/1/29.full

After reading both “Behavior Therapy/Behavioral Activation for Depression” and “Behavioral Activation for Depression,” consider the questions below. Then submit your responses.

Question 1

+YLN1DOsUFGWVqPX8XmNdp0uGh7v63fP1Feb13BZcmonRDtcmnArVOL9FlDL3HcdGPPI59daUB9i6MVhVf6vv4cOmtwD1Ip9cDYWlN64nDQ6E6xToZCzTquEUWZumlwEeo4LQY0dDFomg48hofqvyzZAg3avQU0Bu4E3YYJ48PE5oIF3wUwEOo172IWjRpd92nyPCShMfmrbma8SfFWhoq8akYtzsQKiFNm9LCdV36swjI3PzWgR2RuD1kEw8djqZ37gwcBA5rnBl17xs4MR/R+JoXP7JwCilXTTdgYa8wyeMDnQ2I3bnBZ4ynJaNG0kDIfTpD3QHULVjo3DVoYplO5R8ANAzBZYdu8b+D/pIJ48X56DIMRXaoiq1I+AI3RWnow4yKSl4KQhGlFYC/PY4Jsh7PvXtW80+GX0Ztgzythm63j7T15R7K5U90FaaQeGEQGezxzWzpY=

Question 2

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

Question 3

9dwF4uyGRc/mP+hBdUKvOz9+MM6IMI2OtQO7dW0MBX0j3g4qpIJaTReNdzW2hFiqbkeJo2As+Ce4sCSJAX+BFe01NZ+7TPMDiBO7w0QRRT3VL7XQRK8PrFHjJKIwK4VG5U2cfSrpiEGZTleA3wkRgnuCrdhsKF1W2uf6IgK/dMV6DVt96epnozyDUhrrqF3Uej6mPLdkY/5e9dhW1xvdhafd9qs3rdK+supEkx0TsiqQ3N/favwFhcNlITC3s5re85AyxU4oLmhYMkBT06FOT55Gp0x/RUJJS6iXyo4y0oumPnJ0ya/QxJa0HPWk2AzANSJUrxojjIpMaBryrYnxav7+zVvbnOWvVVU2Ru/a164KMMIxphf6ybqOI3YhAac74vGGByc4dRe0LOhFVns1sJJ6AAdnhgFwDw7v5BEytPj7NsDL

Question 4

mlsAmP5oqDak2tz5hXGMEVRa9/RpwzCeQ5XBJ6GvrMDrIgh8VXkHGOBTwijm7JeYOaACfYccR5+g7T/Ye5uUqOkU6p89gQUwHd3bkTy7U1aEuHm4Gdkxgn+EHHlj6zNZrghhfutZ69SmvABrLuHZ7gi8GNvv4nrl5gWuFVQLDSfRY8T41nzjIjT8GRbfmqRV4bPo2up7cK8ntC4XIONzV+t/IW0UP8LOjhflGdI0xupsz/8i7T1DS/U/YrTenk66J29mj9779uywkK7qdjuFnMOZnwanwzxGZlh5rU7l7Z0deAOLWvS9TbJi8Zs0tIqe/HtQ8+iFlesGVmASWicwPVfffgFehrcbxUyEi26BYFPNU/Wbavx9L0YzayBs/JwTh7iZas8s2pRrkqOv63xPBcaBB8GKndRLEwWQWrUzFMI=
Answers will vary. One possibility: The individual might cancel dinners or drinks with friends, as well as avoid phone calls.

Question 5

2ef6oGyNXY6KtGY2Mfr+HqMd/ahtHqyLDQW0SeQN3LiA85VbWrlpGwLRDZdZaK9YUeAtx8POvFbHi43Zx01M+z0Zyp7GJNFu2kzxrN7u1Sr4mJvDg3RdYyEKtOF650DPdWtD/kuNtyFS2A5duRgWd1lE22hVrvTPMoHp7zu4pSb9OjLuYnevkIMbHmeX4BSE0rW7XY2cjme5deBN1g7x7vfw+HKU4C+NS8lA0tutzrvhT9K4sx8G2wDfqT+SYk+S+pTyBSd3xVbe/pHn
Answers will vary. One possibility: Behavioral activation includes scheduling activities, which forces an individual to structure his day to include multiple activities. Behavioral activation also allows the individual to gain mastery and competency by creating a hierarchy of behaviors and activities for the person to engage in over time. The individual starts with small goals, receives positive reinforcement and reward from their completion, and then moves on to more difficult or challenging goals.

Note: Web links in this activity lead you to external sites. Some URLs change frequently and may appear as broken links. If you encounter a broken link, try searching for the article or organization in your Web browser or click here to see if a replacement link is provided. To report a broken link, contact technical support through the help option in LaunchPad.