Behavioural Activation Therapy for Depression: What’s the Evidence?

The focus of Behavioral Activation Therapy is to learn to recognize and change the behaviors that cause or exacerbate a person's depression. Shutterstock

“I felt as if I had lost myself and wouldn’t ever be the same again” . Amy’s experience of depression is common, and it can cause a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in things you once found enjoyable (Uphoff et al., 2020a).

Depression can have a long-lasting effect on patients and their families, and it is common in people with long-term physical conditions. Suffering with your physical health can affect your mental health, and people with mental health problems may struggle to cope with a physical health problem (Uphoff et al., 2020b).