Behavioral activation
Encyclopedia
Behavioral activation is a third generation behavior therapy for treating depression. It is one of many functional analytic psychotherapies which are based on a Skinnerian psychological model of behavior change, generally referred to as applied behavior analysis
. This area is also a part of what is called clinical behavior analysis
(CBA) (see behavior therapy) and makes up one of the most effective practices in the professional practice of behavior analysis
.
or too much environmental punishment
can contribute to depression. The goal of the intervention is to increase environmental reinforcement and reduce punishment.
The theoretical underpinnings of behavioral activation for depression is Charles Ferster
's functional analysis
of depression. Ferster's basic model has been strengthened by further development in the study of reinforcement principles which led to the matching law
and continuing theoretical advances in the possible functions of depression, as well as a look at behavior analysis of child development
in order to determine long-term patterns which may lead to dysthymia.
to reinforce success in moving through the hierarchy of activities; participants were measured before and after by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and a great effect on their depression was found as a result of their treatment. This was then compared to a control group who did not receive the same treatment. The results of those who received behavioral activation treatment were markedly superior to those of the persons in the control group. Multiple clinics have since piloted and developed the treatment.
Recently, behavioral activation has been applied to anxiety and appears to give promising results. One study found it to be effective with fibromyalgia-related pain anxiety.
.
or what is often termed third generation behavior therapy. Other behavior therapies are acceptance and commitment therapy
(ACT), as well as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and functional analytic psychotherapy
(FAP). Behavioral activation owes its basis to Charles Ferster
's Functional Analysis of Depression (1973) which developed B.F. Skinner's idea of depression, within his analysis of motivation, as a lack of reinforcement.
. It also serves as the core intellectual home for behavior analysts. The Association for Behavior Analysis International sponsors two conferences/year—one in the U.S. and one international.
The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies
(ABCT) also has an interest group in behavior analysis, which focuses on clinical behavior analysis.
Doctoral level behavior analysts who are psychologists belong to the American Psychological Association
's division 25—Behavior analysis. APA offers a diplomate in behavioral psychology.
The World Association for Behavior Analysis offers a certification in behavior therapy which covers behavioral activation.
Applied Behavior Analysis
Applied behavior analysis is a science that involves using modern behavioral learning theory to modify behaviors. Behavior analysts reject the use of hypothetical constructs and focus on the observable relationship of behavior to the environment...
. This area is also a part of what is called clinical behavior analysis
Clinical behavior analysis
Clinical behavior analysis has its origins in applied behavior analysis and behavior therapy. It is sometimes referred to as third-generation behavior therapy.-Current models in clinical behavior analysis:...
(CBA) (see behavior therapy) and makes up one of the most effective practices in the professional practice of behavior analysis
Professional practice of behavior analysis
The professional practice of behavior analysis is one domain of behavior analysis: others being behaviorism, experimental analysis of behavior and applied behavior analysis...
.
Theoretical underpinnings
Behavioral activation emerged from a component analysis of cognitive behavioral therapy. This analysis found that any cognitive component added little to the overall treatment of depression. The behavioral component had existed as a stand-alone treatment in the early work of Peter Lewinsohn and thus a group of behaviorists decided that it might be more efficient to pursue a purer behavioral treatment for the disorder. The theory holds that not enough environmental reinforcementReinforcement
Reinforcement is a term in operant conditioning and behavior analysis for the process of increasing the rate or probability of a behavior in the form of a "response" by the delivery or emergence of a stimulus Reinforcement is a term in operant conditioning and behavior analysis for the process of...
or too much environmental punishment
Punishment
Punishment is the authoritative imposition of something negative or unpleasant on a person or animal in response to behavior deemed wrong by an individual or group....
can contribute to depression. The goal of the intervention is to increase environmental reinforcement and reduce punishment.
The theoretical underpinnings of behavioral activation for depression is Charles Ferster
Charles Ferster
Charles Bohris Ferster was an American behavioral psychologist.-Biography:Ferster was born November 1, 1922 in Freehold, New Jersey, the second son of Julius B. and Molly Madwin Ferster....
's functional analysis
Functional analysis (psychology)
Functional analysis in behavioral psychology is the application of the laws of operant conditioning to establish the relationships between stimuli and responses...
of depression. Ferster's basic model has been strengthened by further development in the study of reinforcement principles which led to the matching law
Matching law
In operant conditioning, the matching law is a quantitative relationship that holds between the relative rates of response and the relative rates of reinforcement in concurrent schedules of reinforcement...
and continuing theoretical advances in the possible functions of depression, as well as a look at behavior analysis of child development
Behavior analysis of child development
Child development in behavior analytic theory has origins in John B. Watson's behaviorism. Watson wrote extensively on child development and conducted research . Watson was instrumental in the modification of William James' stream of consciousness approach to construct a stream of behavior theory...
in order to determine long-term patterns which may lead to dysthymia.
Methods
The behavioral activation (BA) approach to depression was as follows: participants were asked to create a hierarchy of reinforcing activities which were then rank-ordered by difficulty; participants tracked their own goals along with clinicians who used a token economyToken economy
A token economy is a system of behavior modification based on the systematic positive reinforcement of target behavior. The reinforcers are symbols or tokens that can be exchanged for other reinforcers. Token economy is based on the principles of operant conditioning and can be situated within...
to reinforce success in moving through the hierarchy of activities; participants were measured before and after by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and a great effect on their depression was found as a result of their treatment. This was then compared to a control group who did not receive the same treatment. The results of those who received behavioral activation treatment were markedly superior to those of the persons in the control group. Multiple clinics have since piloted and developed the treatment.
Research support
A recent review of behavioral activation studies for depression found that it has a robust effect and that policy makers should consider it an effective treatment. A large-scale treatment study found behavioral activation to be more effective than cognitive therapy and on a par with medication for treating depression.Recently, behavioral activation has been applied to anxiety and appears to give promising results. One study found it to be effective with fibromyalgia-related pain anxiety.
Future direction
Several proponents of behavior therapy believe that behavioral activation will have much to offer other areas such as post-traumatic stress disorderPost-traumatic stress disorder
Posttraumaticstress disorder is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological trauma. This event may involve the threat of death to oneself or to someone else, or to one's own or someone else's physical, sexual, or psychological integrity,...
.
Other third generation behavior therapies
Behavioral activation comes under the heading clinical behavior analysisClinical behavior analysis
Clinical behavior analysis has its origins in applied behavior analysis and behavior therapy. It is sometimes referred to as third-generation behavior therapy.-Current models in clinical behavior analysis:...
or what is often termed third generation behavior therapy. Other behavior therapies are acceptance and commitment therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and commitment therapy or ACT is a cognitive–behavioral model of psychotherapy. It is an empirically-based psychological intervention that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies mixed in different ways with commitment and behavior-change strategies, to increase psychological...
(ACT), as well as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and functional analytic psychotherapy
Functional Analytic Psychotherapy
Functional analytic psychotherapy is an approach to clinical psychotherapy that uses a radical behaviorist position informed by B.F. Skinner's analysis of verbal behavior....
(FAP). Behavioral activation owes its basis to Charles Ferster
Charles Ferster
Charles Bohris Ferster was an American behavioral psychologist.-Biography:Ferster was born November 1, 1922 in Freehold, New Jersey, the second son of Julius B. and Molly Madwin Ferster....
's Functional Analysis of Depression (1973) which developed B.F. Skinner's idea of depression, within his analysis of motivation, as a lack of reinforcement.
Professional organizations
The Association for Behavior Analysis International has a special interest group for practitioner issues, behavioral counseling, and clinical behavior analysis. The association has larger special interest groups for behavioral medicineBehavioral medicine
Behavioral medicine is an interdisciplinary field of medicine concerned with the development and integration of knowledge in the biological, behavioral, psychological, and social sciences relevant to health and illness...
. It also serves as the core intellectual home for behavior analysts. The Association for Behavior Analysis International sponsors two conferences/year—one in the U.S. and one international.
The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies
Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies
The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies was founded in 1966. Its headquarters are in New York City and its membership includes researchers, psychologists, psychiatrists, physicians, social workers, nurses, and other mental-health practitioners, researchers, and students who...
(ABCT) also has an interest group in behavior analysis, which focuses on clinical behavior analysis.
Doctoral level behavior analysts who are psychologists belong to the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
's division 25—Behavior analysis. APA offers a diplomate in behavioral psychology.
The World Association for Behavior Analysis offers a certification in behavior therapy which covers behavioral activation.