““In behavioral activation therapy, the therapist is In behavioral activation therapy, the therapist is interested in the interested in the functionfunction of negative thinking — the way of negative thinking — the way it promotes withdrawal — it promotes withdrawal — ratherrather than itsthan its rightness or rightness or wrongnesswrongness, as in conventional cognitive behavioral , as in conventional cognitive behavioral therapy. Patients are shown how to:therapy. Patients are shown how to:

find out and record what gives them a feeling of find out and record what gives them a feeling of accomplishment, then do it moreaccomplishment, then do it more

maintain regular routines and schedules — for maintain regular routines and schedules — for example, keeping commitments even if the aexample, keeping commitments even if the are re anxiety-provoking — while exploring alternative anxiety-provoking — while exploring alternative behaviors by role-playing in the safer setting of the behaviors by role-playing in the safer setting of the therapist’s officetherapist’s office

avoid pessimism and gloomy rumination by directing avoid pessimism and gloomy rumination by directing their attention to the immediate experience of their their attention to the immediate experience of their senses — to observe the experiences rather than senses — to observe the experiences rather than reacting to them or becoming self-critical.”reacting to them or becoming self-critical.”

Essentials of BA Therapy: Essentials of BA Therapy: Harvard Health ReviewHarvard Health Review

““In a study at the University of Washington, nearly 250 In a study at the University of Washington, nearly 250 people with major depression were divided into four people with major depression were divided into four groups that received either behavioral activation therapy, groups that received either behavioral activation therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, an antidepressant cognitive behavioral therapy, an antidepressant medication, or a sugar pill (placebo). Treatment medication, or a sugar pill (placebo). Treatment continued for 24 sessions over four months while continued for 24 sessions over four months while standard questionnaires measured changes in the standard questionnaires measured changes in the symptoms.symptoms.””

Based on Behavioral Based on Behavioral Activation Therapy: Essentials Activation Therapy: Essentials

of BA Therapyof BA Therapy

““Patients in all four groups improved, and all Patients in all four groups improved, and all treatments were equally effective for the mildly treatments were equally effective for the mildly depressed patients. For the severely depressed, depressed patients. For the severely depressed, behavioral activation and the antidepressant drug behavioral activation and the antidepressant drug were equal, and both were superior to cognitive were equal, and both were superior to cognitive behavioral therapy and the placebo. But patients behavioral therapy and the placebo. But patients taking the medication or placebo were much more taking the medication or placebo were much more likely to drop out of treatment than those receiving likely to drop out of treatment than those receiving psychotherapy.psychotherapy.””

Outcomes for BAOutcomes for BA

““So, over all, behavioral activation therapy was the So, over all, behavioral activation therapy was the most successful treatment. In this study at least, when most successful treatment. In this study at least, when depressed people were prodded into action, they depressed people were prodded into action, they needed little more to experience improvement.needed little more to experience improvement.

For more information on depression, order our special For more information on depression, order our special health report, Understanding Depression, available athealth report, Understanding Depression, available at

www.health.harvard.edu/UD”www.health.harvard.edu/UD”

Outcomes for BA – University Outcomes for BA – University of Washington Studyof Washington Study