[Behavioural activation as a first-line treatment for depression]

Abstract

Psychological treatments are important to reduce the global burden of depression; however, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which is considered the gold-standard treatment, is costly and sparsely available. Behavioural activation (BA) is a psychological treatment aimed at overcoming depression by increasing positive activities, with the help of registration and activity scheduling. It is a simpler and less costly alternative to CBT, and is no less effective in the treatment of moderate to severe depression. Two-thirds of depressed patients can be effectively treated with BA, providing evidence for it being an important extension of the therapeutic arsenal for depression; this will quite probably be reflected by a more prominent place for this treatment in upcoming guidelines.