Behavioral activation is a psychological intervention for depression that increases contact with sources of positive reinforcement and reduces behavioral avoidance. It starts from the premise that depression is maintained by activity withdrawal (which further reduces mood) and works the counterintuitive principle: act first, expect to feel better later.
Concept origin
Lewinsohn (1974) laid the theoretical foundations. Jacobson et al. (1996) demonstrated in a randomized clinical trial that behavioral activation alone was as effective as full CBT. Martell, Dimidjian, and Herman-Dunn (2010) developed the modern protocol based on functional analysis.
Therapeutic approach
The process includes: monitoring activities and mood, identifying avoided activities that previously generated pleasure or meaning, scheduling activities gradually and with structure, identifying avoidance patterns (TRAP) and generating alternative responses (TRAC: Trigger, Response, Alternative Coping).
Related concepts
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