Behavioral activation treatment for depression: Returning to contextual roots.

TLDR

Behavioral activation began as a stand‑alone treatment for depression in a component analysis of the Beck, Rush, Shaw, and Emery version of cognitive therapy. This article aims to describe BA and its developmental history. BA uses focused activation strategies to counter avoidance, withdrawal, and inactivity, helping depressed individuals reengage in life. BA helps individuals access positive reinforcement, providing a natural antidepressant effect.

Abstract

Behavioral activation (BA), as a stand-alone treatment for depression, began as a behavior therapy treatment condition in a component analysis study of the Beck, Rush, Shaw, and Emery version of cognitive therapy. BA attempts to help depressed people reengage in their lives through focused activation strategies. These strategies counter patterns of avoidance, withdrawal, and inactivity that may exacerbate depressive episodes by generating additional secondary problems in individuals' lives. BA is designed to help individuals approach and access sources of positive reinforcement in their lives, which can serve a natural antidepressant function. Our purpose in this article is to describe BA and the history of its development.