BEHAVIORAL ACTIVATION INTERVENTION IN A PATIENT WITH DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMATOLOGY

Abstract

This is a report on treatment for a 44-year-old man with depressive symtomatology. The intervention proposed was based

on the Behavioral Activation (BA) perspective, which considers some types of depression as elaborate forms of avoidance.

Treatment components included recovery of tasks that had previously been given up, reconsideration of life goals, extinction

of avoidance behaviors, time scheduling and reengagement with domestic, creative work and social activities. After seven

months of treatment, significant changes could be appreciated in pre-treatment measures (BDI-II, AAQ, ATQ, EROS, and

BADS), as well as in the number and kinds of activities carried out. Depression was in full remission and the patient had

resumed his productive work. Follow-up showed that the therapeutic benefits persisted for the next five months. In spite of

the severity of the symptoms, the patient preferred not to take antidepressant medication, and so it was never used. The good

outcomes obtained in spite of this circumstance and of the relative brevity of the intervention strongly support the model

proposed from BA for these kinds of cases.