Behavioural Activation
Reviewed By
Dr Harriet Mellotte - Clinical Psychologist, CBT & EMDR Therapist, NHS and Private Practice
When you're feeling low or stuck, it’s easy to lose motivation. You might stop doing things you enjoy, avoid responsibilities, or withdraw from others. Although this might feel like the easiest option in the moment, it can actually make things worse. The less we do, the less joy or satisfaction we feel - and the harder it becomes to break out of that cycle.
References
Jacobson, N. S., Dobson, K. S., Truax, P. A., Addis, M. E., Koerner, K., Gollan, J. K., ... & Prince, S. E. (1996). "A component analysis of cognitive-behavioral treatment for depression." Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64(2), 295–304. A landmark study showing that behavioural activation alone was as effective as full CBT in treating depression, highlighting the power of activity scheduling as a standalone intervention. Dimidjian, S., Hollon, S. D., Dobson, K. S., Schmaling, K. B., Kohlenberg, R. J., Addis, M. E., ... & 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. Found behavioural activation to be as effective as cognitive therapy and antidepressants in treating major depression, especially in individuals with severe symptoms. Ekers, D., Webster, L., Van Straten, A., Cuijpers, P., Richards, D., & Gilbody, S. (2014). "Behavioural activation for depression; an update of meta-analysis of effectiveness and sub group analysis." PLOS ONE, 9(6), e100100. A large meta-analysis confirming behavioural activation as an effective and scalable treatment for depression across various populations and settings.