Behavioural Activation for Depression is a simple and effective treatment of depression that is highly recommended in the Scottish Government and NHS Education for Scotland guidance, ‘Mental Health in Scotland: A Guide to delivering evidence based Psychological Therapies in Scotland – The Matrix’ (2015). It is a structured, goal-focused therapeutic group for depression that encourages people to engage in rewarding activities rather than avoidance, withdrawal and inactivity. Behavioural Activation (both BA and BATD-R) was developed to be delivered as an individual intervention. In the UK, Martell’s BA for Depression (BAD) has been adapted to be delivered in groups. Behavioural Activation in Groups has been developed to address the ongoing challenges of meeting patient need and the increasing demands on services.
The aim of behavioural activation is to get people with depression involved in positive activities and to engage in everyday tasks they may have been avoiding. Therapists work collaboratively with people to help them make real and sustained life change. NES provides resources for staff working with:
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Adults with depression:
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Hopko & Lejuez's behavioural treatment for depression (BATD-R)
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Martell's behavioural activation for depression (BAD)
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group format for Martell's behavioural activation for depression resources (BAG)
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Children with depression
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People with intellectual disabilities and depression:
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Andrew Jahoda's talking therapies for depression: Beat It
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Women with peri-natal depression
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Behavioural activation: 'The Basics'
Behavioural activation: 'TheBasics' provides you with an introduction to behavioural activation for depression. It is also the first part of the 3 behavioural activation for depression learning programmes and aims to help you gain the requisite knowledge underpinning the application of behaviourism in the treatment of depression.
Click on the link below for more information and access the e-learning programme:
Adults with depression: Hopko & Lejuez's behavioural treatment for depression (BATD-R)
The following information is provided for clinicians and service leads to identify the version that would be most appropriate to meet the needs of their clients.
Source: Lejuez, C.W., Hopko, D.R., Acierno, R., Daughters, S.B., and Pagoto, S.L. (2011) Ten year revision of the brief behavioural activation treatment for depression: revised treatment manual. Behavior Modification, 35, 2, 111-161.
BATD-R was developed for people with depression and is considered to be more appropriate in cases where a more straightforward and brief approach is desirable. Several studies have also demonstrated efficacy for BATD-R for depression in the context of other co-morbid conditions such as obesity, cancer, smokers attempting cessation and among individuals in residential drug treatment.
- The ten session manual, developed by Derek Hopko and Carl Lejuez, provides the treatment in five unique sessions and includes five additional sessions to allow for concept review and termination / post-treatment planning.
- Strategies include education about depression, behaviour monitoring, clarifying life areas, values and activities, activity selection and ranking, and social contracts.
- The trainer’s materials include PowerPoint slides with notes for trainers, suggested programme for training, workbook for the clinician, film clips (demonstrating introducing the BA rationale, introducing monitoring to the client, reviewing monitoring forms, the concept of Life Areas, Values and Activities, grading activities and reviewing the monitoring form with the client), Training Acceptability Rating Scale for evaluation of training and reporting template for trainers to update NHS Education Scotland.
- Clinical outcomes for the client can be measured with the Behavioural Activation for Depression Scale (BADS).
- Resources are available for supervisors including information on low-intensity supervision, a BA competency framework and tools to promote adherence to the Behavioural Activation model.
Click on the link below for more information and complete the application form to access the e-learning programme:
On the 16th March 2023 international expert Professor Carl Lejuez delivered a webinar on behavioural activation. This webinar is aimed at trained multidisciplinary staff working within adult mental health including those experienced in delivering behavioural activation. By the end of the webinar participants will:
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Have increased knowledge of Behavioural Activation as a treatment for depression
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Have an understanding of the principle theories, evidence base and protocol for delivering Brief Behavioural Activation for Depression – Revised (BATD-R).
Adults with depression: Martell's Behavioural Activation for Depression (BAD)
The following information is provided for clinicians and service leads to identify the version that would be most appropriate to meet the needs of their clients.
Source: Martell, C.R., Addis, M.E., and Jacobson, N.S. (2001) Depression in Context: Strategies for Guided Action. New York: Norton.
- Developed for people who experience major depression of a complex and enduring, or relapsing, nature.
- The twelve session protocol, developed by Dave Ekers, includes BA formulation and strategies to improve mood.
- Strategies include identifying the depression trap, monitoring links between activity and mood, activity scheduling, TRAP & TRAC, dealing with depressed thinking and rumination, and problem-solving.
- The trainer’s materials include PowerPoint slides with notes for trainers, suggested programme for training, workbook for clinician, film clips demonstrating BA formulation and TRAP / TRAC, Training Acceptability Rating Scale for evaluation of training and reporting template for trainers to update NHS Education Scotland.
- Martell, C.R., Dimidjian, S., Herman-Dunn, R. (2010) Behavioural Activation: A Clinician’s Guide. New York: Guilford. Can be accessed online with your Athens access here: http://site.ebrary.com/lib/nhsscotland/detail.action?docID=10356630
- Clinical outcomes for the client can be measured with the Behavioural Activation for Depression Scale (BADS)
- Resources for supervisors include information on low-intensity supervision, a BA competency framework and tools to promote adherence to the BA model.
Click on the link below for more information and complete the application form to access the e-learning programme:
Adults with depression: group format for Martell's behavioural activation for depression resources
Click on the link below for more information and complete the application form to access the e-learning programme:
Children with depression
Click the following link to find out how can brief behavioural activation help children with depression:
and access trainer resources here: