Behavioral Activation Therapy in the Treatment of Depression: Effectiveness, Advantages, and Improvements

Background: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the first-line psychotherapy for depression, but because of its long course, complicated procedure, and high operation difficulty, CBT is difficult to popularize, and cannot meet the increasing treatment needs. Behavioral Activation Therapy (BAT) is one of the modified forms of CBT, which is mainly used for depression.

Aim: The present study highlights Behavioral Activation Therapy in the Treatment of Depression.

Methods: Sixty-six papers are reviewed, focusing on the connotation, function, advantage, and application of BAT in the treatment of depression, as well as the improvement and development of BAT.

Results: BAT can effectively correct the negative cognition of patients with primary and secondary depression, improve their negative emotions, increase positive behaviors, and reduce negative behaviors, thus alleviating depression. Compared with CBT, BAT has a comparable efficacy, and a higher cost-benefit ratio, and is easier to pair with other therapies.

Conclusion: BAT is effective, low cost, easy to operate, and does not require the high professional quality of the therapist. Therefore, BAT is a psychotherapy for depression with popularization value.