Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 M.A. in Clinical Psychology, Kharazmi University

2 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Psychology, Kharazmi University

Abstract

Abstract
Depression is one of the most common psychological disorders for
which numerous treatment methods have been developed. The aim of
the present study was to examine effect of brief behavioral activation
treatment on reducing depression symptoms and improving quality of
life in patients with depression. The study used a semi-experimental
design with pretest and posttest and a control group. Convenient
sampling was used in selecting 22 female patients who were
diagnosed with major depression by a psychiatrist. The diagnosis was
given using DSM-IV-TR. The 22 subjects were divided into an
experimental and a control group, and the experimental group
received a behavioral activation treatment. Both groups completed
BDI-II, HRSD, and WHOQOL-BREF in the pretest, posttest and
follow-up phases (the follow-up was three months after the
intervention). The results were analyzed using single-variable
covariance analysis and t-test. Results indicated that the treatment
effected considerable and significant changes in depression symptoms
and quality of life of the subjects, both in short-term and after a period
of three months. The study suggests that a brief behavioral activation
treatment is effective in reducing depression symptoms, a finding
which is consistent with findings of the third wave of cognitivebehavioral therapies. The treatment is therefore recommended as an
effective method for treating major depression.
Abstract
Depression is one of the most common psychological disorders for
which numerous treatment methods have been developed. The aim of
the present study was to examine effect of brief behavioral activation
treatment on reducing depression symptoms and improving quality of
life in patients with depression. The study used a semi-experimental
design with pretest and posttest and a control group. Convenient
sampling was used in selecting 22 female patients who were
diagnosed with major depression by a psychiatrist. The diagnosis was
given using DSM-IV-TR. The 22 subjects were divided into an
experimental and a control group, and the experimental group
received a behavioral activation treatment. Both groups completed
BDI-II, HRSD, and WHOQOL-BREF in the pretest, posttest and
follow-up phases (the follow-up was three months after the
intervention). The results were analyzed using single-variable
covariance analysis and t-test. Results indicated that the treatment
effected considerable and significant changes in depression symptoms
and quality of life of the subjects, both in short-term and after a period
of three months. The study suggests that a brief behavioral activation
treatment is effective in reducing depression symptoms, a finding
which is consistent with findings of the third wave of cognitivebehavioral therapies. The treatment is therefore recommended as an
effective method for treating major depression.

Keywords

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